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Any one of the following courses fulfills the Neuroscience ‘Foundational’ course requirement. Additional courses from this category can be used to fulfill the ‘Advanced Neurobiology 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
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 neurobiology course).
These courses are recommended for juniors and capped at 12 students. They provide an opportunity to learn from a professional neurobiologist 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
Neuro 101G: Sex and the Brain – Dr. Tari Tan
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
Neurobiology 130: Visual object Recognition – Computational Models and Neurophysiological Mechanisms – Dr. Kreiman, Q Report
Neurobiology 140: Biological and Artificial Intelligence – Dr. Kreiman,
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 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 1456: Clever Brain – Information Flow and Decision Making. – Dr. Xu, Q Report
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
Psychology 1052 The application of fMRI in cognitive neuroscience research
Psychology 1202 : Modern Neuroanatomy
– Dr. Buckner – Q Report
Psychology 1251: Circuits and Symptoms- Dr. Buckholtz, Q Report – not offered ’17-18
Psychology 1303: The Human Brain Then and Now
– Dr. Buckner, 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 ’17-18
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 ’17-18
† 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 2017-18
[Engineering Sciences 226r: Topics in neural engineering: Learning and memory – Dr. Smith, Q Report] – not offered 2017-18
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 or Yokohama, Japan (1 Advanced Neurobiology courses)
Many students also create their own summer neurobiology 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.
The following list of classes count as modeling/analysis electives for students on the Computational Neuroscience Track. Additional courses may be petitioned for approval.
Stat 108: Computing Software
Stat 111: Theoretical Inference
Stat 121: Data Science
Stat 131: Time Series
Stat 139: Linear Models
Stat 171: Stochastic Processes
Stat 220: Bayesian Data Analysis
Stat 149: Generalized Linear Models
ENG-SCI 115/APM: Mathematical Modeling
ENG-SCI/APM 121: Intro to Optimization
ENG-SCI 155: Biological Signal Processing
ENG-SCI/APM 158: Feedback Control of Dynamical Systems
MCB 111: Mathematics in Biology
MCB 112: Biological Data Analysis
MCB 198: Advanced Math Techniques for Modern Biology
APM 50: Intro to Applied Mathematics
APM 104: Series Expansions and Complex Analysis
APM 105: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
APM 107: Graph Theory and Combinatorics
APM 108: Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
APM 111: Intro Scientific Computing
APM 120: Applied Linear Algebra and Big Data
APM 231: Decision Theory
CS 108: Intelligent Systems: Design and Ethical Challenges
CS 109: Intro to Data Science
CS 121: Intro to Theory of Computation
CS 124: Data Structures and Algorithms
CS 125: Algorithms and Complexity
CS 143: Computer Networks
CS 181: Machine Learning
CS 182: Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science 182: Artificial Intelligence- Dr. Rush, Q Report
Computer Science 108: Intelligent Systems – Dr. Grosz, Q Report
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
Economics 1036: Psychology & Economics of Beliefs (New Course)– Dr. Rabin
[ Economics 1760: Behavioral Finance – Dr. Lamont,Q Report ] – not offered ’17-18
[ Culture and Belief 34: Madness and Medicine: Themes in the History of Psychiatry – Dr. Harrington, Q Report ] – not offered in ’17-18
Hist Sci 178: History of Psychotherapies – Dr. Lunbeck, Q Report
Hist Sci 171V: Measuring the Mind (New Course) – Dr. Eby
Human Evolutionary Biology 1310: Hormones and Behavior – Dr. Hooven, Q Report
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 ’17-18
Phil 158A: Memory: Proseminar (New Course) – Dr. Siegel
Philosophy 156: Philosophy of Mind – Dr. Chen, Q Report
Psychology 14: Cognitive Neuroscience – Drs. Schacter & Alvarez, Q Report
Psychology 18: Abnormal Psychology – Dr. Buckholtz, Q Report
Psychology 980K: Growing Up & Growing Old: Cognitive Changes in Childhood and Aging – Dr. Banaji, Q Report
Psychology 980JH: Trauma and PTSD (New Course) – Dr. Hooley
Psychology 980P: Social Factors in Psychopathology – Dr. Hooley, Q Report
Psychology 1305: Evolution and Cognition – Dr. Krasnow, Q Report
Psychology 1355: The Adolescent Brain
– Dr. Somerville, Q Report
Psychology 1707: Personality and Self-Knowledge – Dr. Sereno, Q Report
Psychology 1750: Free Will, Responsibility, and Law – Dr. Greene, Q Report
Psychology 1861: Developmental Psychopathology – Dr. Weisz, Q Report
______
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. Gilbert (Fall), Q Report
Psychology 16: Developmental Psych
– Dr. Snedecker, Q Report
Psychology 980jb: Styles of Thought
– Dr. Amit, Q Report
Psychology 1002: Evolving Morality – Dr. Greene, 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
Psychology 1611: Dev. Disabilities (New Course)
– Dr. Gaab
Psychology 1702: The Emotional Mind
– Dr. Somerville, Q Report
[ Psychology 1801: Anxiety Disorders – Dr. McNally, Q Report ] – not offered ’17-18
______
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
[ SCRB 60: Ethics, Biotechnology and the Future of Human Nature – Drs. Sandel and Melton, Q Report ] – not offered ’17-18
Neurobiology 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 Neurobiology concentration standing committee or an appropriate Harvard affiliated faculty member in another department or institution. All students must submit registration materials for Neurobiology 91 at the time of enrollment.
Neuro 91 Registration Form – To be completed by registration deadline to enroll in Neuro 91.
Neurobiology 99. Honors Thesis Tutorial
Ryan W. Draft and Members of the Department
For students writing a thesis in Neurobiology. This course is ordinarily taken in the last semester of enrollment. The Head Tutor must approve a thesis proposal prior to enrolling in Neurobiology 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
