NRSC209
Neural Codes: The Language of Thought
Neuroscience
BC
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