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NRSC209

Neural Codes: The Language of Thought

Subject code

NRSC

Course Number

209

Department(s)

Instructor(s)

M. Greene

Course Long Title

Neural Codes: The Language of Thought

Description

Although a central tenet of neuroscience is that information about the world is encoded in the patterns of neural firing, it is increasingly acknowledged that our assumptions about these patterns make qualitatively different predictions about neural function. This course examines major hypotheses related to information coding by individual neurons and populations of neurons. Specific themes include rate coding versus time-based codes, sparse versus dense codes, and the relationship between brain responses and the statistics of their inputs. Students examine biological data and artificial models to assess how various encoding schemes might produce skillful behavioral responses. Prerequisite(s): NS/PY 160.

Modes of Inquiry

Quantitative and Formal Reasoning [QF], Scientific Reasoning [SR]

Writing Credit

No writing credit

INDS Program Relationship

IDNS - NRSC Program

Class Restriction

Exclude First Years