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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 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 and differential equations will be assumed. – Dr. Blum, Q report
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. – Drs. Draft and Quast, Q Report
All tutorials are half courses (4 credits) that meet throughout the year and cannot be divided with credit. 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 4 tutorials this year. You can and should shop multiple tutorials. To enroll in a tutorial:
Neuro 101E (formerly Neuro 106): Human Cognition: Reading and Writing the Neural Code – Dr. Patel, Q Report
Neuro 101F (formerly Neuro 111): The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory – Dr. Joseph Zak, Q report
Neuro 101G: Sex and the Brain – Dr. Tari Tan, Q report
Neuro 101L: The Neurobiology of Sleep and Its Role in Mental Health (New Course) – Dr. Ed Pace-Schott
Biomedical Engineering 110: Physiological Systems Analysis
– Dr. Smith, 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 and differential equations will be assumed. – Dr. Blum, Q report
[Neuro 148: The Neurobiology of Pain] – This course will explore the neurobiological systems and mechanisms underlying both acute and chronic pain.- Dr. Draft – Q Report – not offered 2018-19j
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 (New Course)
[Psychology 1451: Debugging the brain: Computational Approaches to Mental Dysfunction] – This course examines recent work applying computational models to mental disorders. – Dr. Gershman, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Biomedical Engineering 130: Neural Control of Movement – Dr. Smith, Q Report
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. – Drs. Draft and Quast, Q Report
Neuro 140: Biological and Artificial Intelligence – Dr. Kreiman (New Course)
Neuro 143: Neurobiology of vision and blindness – development/circuity of the visual system and potential treatments for blindness – Dr. Sanes (New Course)
[Psychology 1202: Modern Neuroanatomy] – Dr. Buckner, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Psychology 1251: Circuits and Symptoms] – Dr. Buckholtz, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Psychology 1303: The Human Brain Then and Now] – Dr. Buckner, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Psychology 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
[Psychology 1430: Human Memory and Amnesia] – current data and theory concerning human memory and amnesia from cognitive, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological perspectives – Dr. Schacter, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
† Courses taught at Harvard Medical School (HMS, Longwood Campus)
Neurobiology 215A†: Cellular Neurophysiology – Dr. Goodrich et al, Q Report
[Computer Science 280r: Advanced Topics in artificial Intelligence] – Dr. Grosz, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Engineering Sciences 226r: Topics in neural engineering: Learning and memory] – Dr. Smith, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Neurobiology 209†: Neurobiology of Disease
– Dr. Kravitz, 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. The first meeting is on January 22 in Goldenson 122 at the Medical Quadrangle on Longwood Avenue (M2 shuttle bus from Quincy Street near Lamont Library—Harvard id gets you on the bus)
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 the term and in the summer all over the world.
Trento, Italy (1 MBB course)
Oxford, England (1 Intermediate Biology course)
Tokyo, Japan (1 Advanced Neuro course)
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 980U: The Biological and Social Embedding of Early Life Stress (New Course) – Drs. Jensen and Nelson
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
APMTH 104: Series Expansions and Complex Analysis
APMTH 105: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
APMTH 107: Graph Theory and Combinatorics
APMTH 108: Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
[APMTH 111: Intro Scientific Computing] – not offered 2018-19
APMTH 120: Applied Linear Algebra and Big Data
APMTH 231: Decision Theory
[CS 108: Intelligent Systems: Design and Ethical Challenges] – not offered 2018-19
CS 109: Intro to Data Science
CS 121: Intro to Theory of Computation
CS 124: Data Structures and Algorithms
[CS 125: Algorithms and Complexity] – not offered 2018-19
CS 143: Computer Networks
CS 181: Machine Learning
CS 182: Artificial Intelligence
ENG-SCI/APM 115: Mathematical Modeling
ENG-SCI/APM 121: Intro to Optimization
ENG-SCI 155: Biological Signal Processing
[ENG-SCI/APM 158: Feedback Control of Dynamical Systems] – not offered 2018-19
MCB 111: Mathematics in Biology
MCB 112: Biological Data Analysis
MCB 198: Advanced Math Techniques for Modern Biology
MCB 199: Statistical Thermodynamics and Quantitative Biology
Psych 2030: Bayesian Data Analysis
[Stat 108: Computing Software] – not offered 2018-19
Stat 111: Theoretical Inference
Stat 121: Data Science
Stat 131: Time Series
Stat 139: Linear Models
Stat 149: Generalized Linear Models
Stat 171: Stochastic Processes
Stat 220: Bayesian Data Analysis
Computer Science 182: Artificial Intelligence- Dr. Rush, Q Report
[Computer Science 108: Intelligent Systems] – Dr. Grosz, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Computer Science 181: Machine Learning – Dr. Doshi-Velez, – Dr. Nagpal, Q Report
Computer Science 189: Autonomous Robots – Dr. Nagpal, Q Report
Economics 1057: Game Theory and Social Behavior – Drs. Yoeli and Hoffman, Q Report
[Economics 1030: Psychology & Economics] – Drs. Strzalecki and Laibson, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Economics 1036: Psychology & Economics of Beliefs – Dr. Rabin, Q report
Note: Education courses are offered at the graduate level, but are open to undergrads.
[Edu H510A: Machine Learning and Human Learning] – Dr. Fadel – not offered 2018-19
Culture and Belief 34: Madness and Medicine: Themes in the History of Psychiatry – Dr. Harrington, Q Report
[Hist Sci 178: History of Psychotherapies] – Dr. Lunbeck, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Hist Sci 171V: Measuring the Mind] – Dr. Eby – not offered 2018-19
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1310: Hormones and Behavior] – Dr. Hooven, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Human Evolutionary Biology 1418: Endocrinology and Behavior: Research Seminar – Dr. Lipson, Q Report
Human Evolutionary Biology 1600: Evolution of Complex Traits – Dr. Ruvolo, Q Report
Human Evolutionary Biology 1330: Primate Social Behavior – Dr. Meredith, Q Report
Linguistics 83: Language, Structure, and Cognition – Dr. Polinsky, Q Report
[Linguistics 160 / Psychology 1605: Psychology of Language – Drs. Snedeker & Chierchia, Q Report] – not offered in ’18-19
Philosophy 156: Philosophy of Mind – Dr. Chen, Q Report
Philosophy 158A: Inference and Memory: Proseminar – Dr. Siegel, Q report
Psychology 16: Developmental Psych – Dr. Snedecker, Q Report
Psychology 980JK: Mood Disorders – Dr. Kleiman, Q report
Psychology 980 JQ: Decision-Making in an Uncertain World (New Course) – Dr. Raue
Psychology 980K: Growing Up & Growing Old: Cognitive Changes in Childhood and Aging – Dr. Zaitchik-Samet, Q Report
Psychology 1702: The Emotional Mind – Dr. Somerville, Q Report
[Psychology 1707: Personality and Self-Knowledge] – Dr. Sereno, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Psychology 1750: Free Will, Responsibility, and Law – Dr. Greene], Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Psychology 1861: Developmental Psychopathology] – Dr. Weisz, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Psychology 1863: Social Factors in Psychopathology – Dr. Hooley, Q Report
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Note: Grad level Psychology courses (2000 level) may be petitioned for MBB elective credit (email Dr. Draft or Dr. Magnotti prior to enrolling)
Science of Living Systems 20: Psychological Science – Dr. Mitchell (Fall), Q Report
Psychology 14: Cognitive Neuroscience – Dr. Schacter, Q Report
Psychology 18: Abnormal Psychology – Dr. Buckholtz, Q Report
[Psychology 980jb: Styles of Thought] – Dr. Amit, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
Psychology 1002: Evolving Morality – Dr. Greene, Q Report
Psychology 1305: Evolution and Cognition – Dr. Krasnow, Q Report
Psychology 1355: The Adolescent Brain – Dr. Somerville, Q Report
[Psychology 1358: Is there more to thought than muscle twitches? Cognitive and neural aspects of object and action knowledge] – Dr. Caramazza, Q Report – not offered 2018-19
[Psychology 1611: Dev. Disabilities] – Dr. Gaab – not offered 2018-19
Psychology 1801: Anxiety Disorders – Dr. McNally, Q Repo
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Note: Grad level Psychology courses (2000 level) may be petitioned for MBB elective credit (email Dr. Draft or Dr. Magnotti prior to enrolling)
Science of Living Systems 20: Psychological Science – Dr. Pinker (Spring), Q Report
Neuro 91. Laboratory Research
Ryan W. Draft and Members of the Department
This course is taken twice 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 concentration 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 Registration Form – To be completed by registration deadline to enroll in Neuro 91.
Neuro 99. Honors Thesis Tutorial
Ryan W. Draft and Members of the Department
For students writing a thesis in Neuroscience. This course is ordinarily taken in the last semester of enrollment. The Head Tutor must approve a thesis proposal prior to enrolling in Neuro 99.
Neuro 99 Registration and Senior Abstract Form (serves as either 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 91 or 99
Non-Thesis Writer Enrolled in 91 or 99
Combined Thesis Proposal and 91 Final Report
Due: Wed, May 2, 5 PM
Neuro 91 Final Report
Due: Wed, May 2, 5 PM
See Thesis Guidelines
Fall: Intro Rough Draft. Fri, Dec 7, 5 PM
Spring: Final Thesis. Fri, March 15, 5 PM
