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Any one of the following courses fulfills the Neuroscience ‘Foundational’ course requirement for the ‘Neurobiology’ and ‘MBB’ tracks (‘Computational Neuroscience students must take Neuro 105, 115, or 120). Additional courses from this category can be used to fulfill the ‘Advanced Neuroscience Elective’ courses requirement.
Neuro 115: Cellular Basis of Neuronal Function
Biophysical and cell biological approaches to excitability, synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity. This course includes hands-on component for students to learn patch clamp and extracellular recording techniques. – Dr. Draft & Dr. Quast, Q Report
Neuro 120: Introductory Computational Neuroscience
This course introduces students to abstract models of what and how neurons compute and concrete analyses of real neurons in action. Topics include network models of sensory processing and memory, and techniques to compare these models with real experimental data. This course will emphasize students’ contributions and classroom interactions. Programming projects will be a significant aspect of the course, so programming experience (Python, Matlab) is recommended. Familiarity—but not expertise—with linear algebra will be assumed. – Dr. Penikis (new instructor), Q report
All tutorials are half courses (4 credits) that meet throughout the year and cannot be divided with credit. As such, to maintain the normal 8 courses/year schedule, students enrolled in a tutorial typically enroll in three classes +tutorial one semester and four classes + tutorial the other semester. Only one tutorial may count toward concentration requirements (as an advanced neuroscience course).
These courses are recommended for juniors and capped at 12 students. They provide an opportunity to learn from a professional neuroscientist over an entire year, to explore important research topics that are not covered in depth in other courses, and to become comfortable reading primary scientific literature and analyzing scientific data.
We are offering 9 tutorials this year. You can and should shop multiple tutorials. To enroll in a tutorial:
Neuro 101L: Sleep Talk: Unraveling the Mystery of Sleep – Dr. Tony Cunningham, Q report
Robinson 107
Neuro 101V: Sculpting Activity: How Inhibition Shapes the Brain in Health and Disease – Dr. Saad Hannan, Q report
Robinson 107
Neuro 101X: Stress Resilience & Susceptibility: Mechanisms & Models – Dr. Dominika Burek (New Course)
Robinson 107
Biomedical Engineering 131: Neuroengineering – Dr. Liu, Q report
[Neuro 145: Neurobiology of Perception and Decision Making – neural circuits underlying perception and behavior – Dr. Uchida, Q Report] – – not offered 2023-’24
Psychology 1201: Your Brain on Drugs: Psychopharmacology – Dr. Lukas, Q Report
Psychology 1304: Brain Damage as a Window into the Mind: Cognitive Neuropsychology – Dr. Caramazza, Q Report
[Psychology 1309: Essentials of fMRI for Cognitive Neuroscientists] – Dr. Konkle, Q report – not offered 2023-’24
[Psychology 1451: Debugging the brain: Computational Approaches to Mental Dysfunction] – not offered 2023-’24
This course examines recent work applying computational models to mental disorders]. – Dr. Gershman, Q Report
Biomedical Engineering 129: Introduction to Bioelectronics – Dr. Liu, Q report
[Biomedical Engineering 130: Neural Control of Movement] – Dr. Smith, Q Report – not offered 2023-’24
Neuro 115: Cellular Basis of Neuronal Function – Biophysical and cell biological approaches to excitability, synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity. This course includes hands-on component for students to learn patch clamp and extracellular recording techniques. – Dr. Draft & Dr. Quast, Q Report
Neuro 120: Introductory Computational Neuroscience
This course introduces students to abstract models of what and how neurons compute and concrete analyses of real neurons in action. Topics include network models of sensory processing and memory, and techniques to compare these models with real experimental data. This course will emphasize students’ contributions and classroom interactions. Programming projects will be a significant aspect of the course, so programming experience (Python, Matlab) is recommended. Familiarity—but not expertise—with linear algebra will be assumed. – Dr. Penikis (new instructor), Q report
Neuro 1202: Modern Neuroanatomy – Dr. Buckner, Q Report
[Psychology 1303: The Human Brain Then and Now] – Dr. Buckner, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Neuro 1401: Computational Cognitive Neuroscience – teaching students how to simulate brain function with computer programs. Special emphasis will be placed on processes like learning, memory, attention, decision-making, and object perception. – Dr. Gershman, Q Report
Psych 1406: Biological and Artificial Visual Systems: How Humans and Machines Represent the World – Dr. Alvarez, Q report
† Courses taught at Harvard Medical School (HMS, Longwood Campus)
[Engineering Sciences 226r: Topics in neural engineering: Learning and memory in Neural Systems ]- Dr. Smith, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Neuro 231(formerly Neuro 131): Computational Neuroscience – Dr. Sompolinsky, Q Report
Neurobiology 209†: Neurobiology of Disease – Dr. Mireau, Q Report
This course covers a major disease or disorder of the nervous system each week, including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, Mood and Autism Spectrum disorder and others. The course is taught at the Harvard Medical School on Monday (6-8:30 PM) and Wednesday (7-9:30 PM) evenings. The Monday sessions involve patient presentations and “core” lectures describing clinical progression, pathology, and basic science underlying a major disease or disorder. On Wednesdays, students present material from original literature sources, and there is general discussion. The course is for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and MD and MD/PhD students. The recommended prerequisite are: Introductory neurobiology, biochemistry, and genetics/molecular biology. The course is given in alternate years and is listed at the Medical School as NB 713.0.
There are many ways to study Neuro abroad. Please talk to Ryan or Laura to get started planning. We regularly have students study both during term time and in the summer all over the world.
[Trento, Italy (1 MBB course)] – not offered summer 2023
[Oxford, England (1 Intermediate Biology course)] – not offered summer 2023
Many students also create their own summer neuroscience program through grants from OCS (including non-credit internships, like the Weissman Fellowship). Check out more here!
Note: all MBB 980 courses in the catalog count for the MBB seminar requirement.
[MBB 980R: Psychopaths and Psychopathy: Psychological, Neuroscientific, Legal, and Policy Issues] – Dr. Fersch, Q report – not offered 2023-24
[MBB 980S: Cognitive Neuroscience of Meditation] – Drs. Lazar and Ferguson, Q report – not offered 2023-24
MBB 980AA: Drug Use in Nature – Dr. Pierce (New Course)
MBB 980BB: Your Brain on Poetry – Dr. Dymek (New Course)
MBB 980T: Sleep and Mental Health – Dr. Pace-Schott (New Course)
[MBB 980V: The Functional and Structural Human Brain Connectome] – Dr. Nickerson, Q report – not offered 2023-24
[MBB 980W:Creativity and Healing in Medicine and Music] – Dr. Wong, Q report – not offered in 2023-24
MBB 980X: Translational Neuroscience: Limits of Adaptation from Extreme Environments to Clinical Practice – Drs. Strangman and Ivkovic, Q report
[MBB 980Y: Virtue Science] – Drs. Lazar and Ferguson – not offered 2023-24
[MBB 980Z: The Insanity Defense: Psychological, Neuroscientific, Legal, Philosophical, and Policy Issues] – Dr. Fersch – not offered 2023-24
The following list of classes count as modeling/analysis electives for students on the Computational Neuroscience Track. Additional courses may be petitioned for approval.
APMTH 50: Intro to Applied Mathematics, Q report
APMTH 104: Complex Analysis and Series Expansions, Q report
APMTH 105: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations, Q report
APMTH 107: Graph Theory and Combinatorics, Q report
APMTH 108: Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Q report
APMTH 111 : Intro Scientific Computing, Q report
APMTH 120: Applied Linear Algebra and Big Data, Q report
APMTH: 220: Geometric Methods Machine Learning, Q report
APMTH 231 : Decision Theory, Q report
APMTH 232 : Learning, Estimation, and Control of Dynamical Systems
BE 110: Physiological Systems Analysis, Q report
[CS 108: Intelligent Systems: Design and Ethical Challenges] – not offered 2023-24
CS 109: Intro to Data Science, Q report
CS 121: Intro to Theoretical Computer Science, Q report
CS 124: Data Structures and Algorithms, Q report
[CS 143: Computer Networks], Q report – not offered 2023-24
CS 181: Machine Learning, Q report
CS 182: Artificial Intelligence, Q report
CS 187: Computational Linguistics] Q report
ENG-SCI/APM 115: Mathematical Modeling, Q report
ENG-SCI/APM 121: Intro to Optimization, Q report
ENG-SCI 155: Systems and Control, Q report
ENG-SCI 157: Biological Signal Processing, Q report
MCB 111: Mathematics in Biology, Q report
[MCB 112: Biological Data Analysis], Q report – not offered 2023-24
MCB 198: Advanced Math Techniques for Modern Biology, Q report
[MCB 199: Statistical Thermodynamics and Quantitative Biology] – not offered 2023-24
[Psych 2030: Bayesian Data Analysis] – not offered 2023-24
Stat 111: Introduction to Statistical Inference, Q report
[Stat 115: Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinformatics], Q report – not offered 2023-24
Stat 117: Data Analysis in Modern Biostatistics, Q report
[Stat 120: Introduction to Bayesian Inference and Applications], Q report] – not offered 2023-24
[Stat 121: Data Science], Q report – not offered 2023-24
Stat 131: Time Series & Prediction, Q report
Stat 139: Linear Models, Q report
Stat 149: Generalized Linear Models, Q report
Stat 171: Intro to Stochastic Processes, Q report
Stat/CS 184: Introduction to Reinforcement Learning, Q report
Stat 185: Introduction to Unsupervised Learning, Q report
Stat 195: Introduction to Supervised Learning, Q report
Stat 220: Bayesian Data Analysis, Q report
[Computer Science 108: Intelligent Systems] – Dr. Grosz, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Computer Science 182: Artificial Intelligence- Dr. Rush, Q Report
Computer Science 181: Machine Learning – Dr. Doshi-Velez Q Report
[Computer Science 189: Autonomous Robots ]– Dr. Nagpal, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Economics 1057: Game Theory and Social Behavior – Drs. Yoeli and Hoffman, Q Report
[Economics 980BB: Behavioral Economics] – Dr. Strzalecki – not offered 2023-24
Economics 980Z: Behavioral Finance – Dr. Stein, Q report
[Economics 1036: Psychology & Economics of Beliefs] – Dr. Rabin, Q report – not offered 2023-24
Note: Education courses are offered at the graduate level, but are open to undergrads.
[Edu H115: Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, and Education] – Dr. Pollack – not offered 2023-24
[Edu H510A: Machine Learning and Human Learning] – Dr. Fadel – not offered 2023-24
[HistSci 172: Mental Health Matters: Recurring Themes and Unfinished Business] – Dr. Harrington, Q report – not offered 2023-24
[HistSci 1770: Broken Brains: A Patient-Centered History] – Dr. Harrington, Q report – not offered 2023-24
HistSci 1780: Psychopathologies of Modern Life – Dr. Lunbeck, Q report
[HistSci 1472: Mental Health in Crisis: From War Neurosis to Covid-19] – Dr. Abi-Rached – not offered 2023-24
Human Evolutionary Biology 1330: Primate Social Behavior – Drs. Surbeck & Schamberg, Q Report
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1418: Endocrinology and Behavior: Research Seminar] – Dr. Lipson, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1310: Hormones and Behavior] – Dr. Hooven, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Human Evolutionary Biology 1317: Evolution, Anatomy and Physiology of Sleep – Dr. Clark Matott, Q report
Human Evolutionary Biology 1339: The Human Brain in the Animal Kingdom – Dr. Hecht, Q report
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1600: Evolution of Complex Traits] – Dr. Ruvolo, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
[Linguistics 132: Psychosemantics] – Dr. Davdison, Q report – not offered 2023-24
Linguistics 83: Language, Structure, and Cognition – Dr. Davidson, Q Report
[Philosophy 158A: Inference and Memory: Proseminar – Dr. Siegel, Q report] – not offered 2023-24
Philosophy 156: Philosophy of Mind – Dr. Chen, Q Report
[Philosophy 158B: Political Psychology – Dr. Siegel, Q report] – not offered 2023-24
Psychology 1 (formerly SLS-20): Intro to Psychological Science – Dr. Gilbert (Fall), Q Report
Psychology 14: Cognitive Neuroscience – Drs. Schacter, Phelps, Q Report
Psychology 980AC: Mood Disorders – Dr. Roberts, Q report
Psychology 980AD: Psychopathology and the Family – Dr. Knutsen, Q report
Psychology 1018: The Science and Psychology of Music – Dr. Piccolo, Q report
[Psychology 1305: Evolutionary Psychology] – Dr. Krasnow, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Psychology 1311: Precision Cognitive Neuroscience: Opportunities Afforded by Deep, Intensive Study Within Individuals – Dr. Buckner, Q report
Psychology 1340: Imagination, Pretense, and Make-Believe Worlds – Dr. Ullman
[Psychology 1454: Neuroscience Fiction: An Introduction to Cutting Edge Neuroscience through the Lens of Film and Television] – Dr. Alvarez, Q report – not offered 2023-24
[Psychology 1654: What infants know, how children learn] – Dr. Spelke, Q report – not offered 2023-24
[Psychology 1708: Controlling the Uncontrollable? Emotion Regulation and Well-Being] – Dr. Jones, Q report – not offered 2023-24
Psychology 1750: Free Will, Responsibility, and Law]- Dr. Greene, Q Report
[Psychology 1811: Gender and Psychopathology] – Dr. Quigley – not offered 2023-24
Psychology 1813: Technology and Mental Health – Dr. Singh, Q report
Psychology 1816: Broken Brains: Mechanisms and Markers of Mental Illness – Dr. Piccolo, Q report
[Psychology 1861: Developmental Psychopathology] – Dr. Weisz, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
______
Note: Grad level Psychology courses (2000 level) may be petitioned for MBB elective credit (email Dr. Draft, Dr. Magnotti, or Dr. Penikis prior to enrolling)
Psychology 1 (formerly SLS-20): Intro to Psychological Science – Dr. Mitchell (Spring), Q Report
Psychology 16: Developmental Psych – Dr. Snedeker, Q Report
Psychology 18: Psychopathology – Dr. Shingleton, Q Report
Psych 980JO: Understanding Autism – Dr Knutsen, Q report
Psych 980TM: Transdiagnostic Models of Psychopathology: Theory, Research, and Treatment – Dr. Evans, Q report
Psychology 1322: Decisions Big and Small: The Cognitive Science of Making Up Your Mind – Dr. Ullman, Q report
Psychology 1325: The Emotional, Social Brain – Dr. Phelps, Q report
[Psychology 1355: The Adolescent Brain] – Dr. Somerville, Q Report– not offered in 2023-24
Psychology 1702: The Emotional Mind – Dr. Somerville, Q Report
Psychology 1801: Anxiety Disorders – Dr. McNally, Q report
______
Note: Grad level Psychology courses (2000 level) may be petitioned for MBB elective credit (email Dr. Draft, Dr. Magnotti, or Dr. Penikis prior to enrolling)
[GenEd 1058 (formerly SCRB 60): Tech Ethics: AI, Biotech and the Future of Human Nature] – Drs. Sandel and Melton, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
GenEd 1046 (formerly Psych 1002): Evolving Morality – Dr. Greene, Q Report
[Gen Ed 1064 (formerly SCRB 187): Brains, Identity, and Moral Agency] – Dr. Hyman, Q Report – not offered 2023-24
Gen Ed 1125: Artificial & Natural Intelligence – Dr. Murthy, Q report
Neuro 91. Laboratory Research
Ryan W. Draft and Laura Magnotti
This course is taken to obtain credit for independent laboratory research during the 6th, 7th, or 8th semester. Research work should be directed by a member of the Neuroscience Standing Committee or an appropriate Harvard-affiliated faculty member in another department or institution. All students must submit registration materials for Neuro 91 at the time of enrollment.
Neuro 91 Online Registration Form – Once you have found a lab, please complete this online form to initiate enrollment.
Neuro 99. Thesis Research
Ryan W. Draft and Laura Magnotti
For Neuroscience concentrators writing a thesis. This course is ordinarily taken during the final semester of enrollment. The Standing Committee must approve a thesis proposal prior to enrolling in Neuro 99
Neuro 99 Online Registration/Abstract Form – To be completed by the registration deadline to enroll in Neuro 99 and/or submit your senior thesis abstract at the beginning of your 8th (final) semester.
Final written report instructions/forms for 91 students and thesis writers (see accordion below):
** Email the report to 1) your PI and 2) James Poolner (jp@mcb.harvard.edu) by the listed deadline **
Potential Thesis Writer Enrolled in Neuro 91 or 99
Non-Thesis Writer Enrolled in Neuro 91
Combined Thesis Proposal and 91 Final Report
Due dates:
Fall (March 2024 grads): Saturday, December 9th, 2023 @11:59 PM ET
Spring (May 2024 grads): Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ET
Due dates:
Fall: Saturday, December 9th, 2023 @11:59 PM ET
Spring: Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ET
Fall: Final Thesis (March 2024 grads)
Due: Friday, November 17, 2023 @5 PM ET
Spring: Final Thesis (May 2024 grads)
Due: Friday, March 8, 2024 @5 PM ET
Due dates:
Fall: Saturday, December 9th, 2023 @11:59 PM ET
Spring: Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ET
Neuro 101U
