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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 120). Additional courses from this category can be used to fulfill the ‘Advanced Neuroscience Elective’ courses requirement.
Neuro 115: Cellular Basis of Neuronal Function – not offered 2025-’26
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 Q Report
Neuro 120: Introductory Computational Neuroscience – Dr. Penikis, Q report
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.
These courses are recommended for juniors and capped at 12 students. They provide an opportunity to learn from a professional neuroscientist in a small group setting, 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. Neuroscience concentrators and secondary students may only count one tutorial towards those requirements.
Note: The list of tutorials for the entire academic year 2025-26 has now been updated. All courses are centrally lotteried by the Neuroscience concentration (see below).
You can and should shop multiple tutorials. To enroll in a tutorial:
Neuro 101V: Sculpting Activity: How Inhibition Shapes the Brain in Health and Disease – Dr. Saad Hannan, Q report
Neuro 101W: Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience – Dr. Sara Beach, Q report
Neuro 101CC: Comparative neuroscience and brain circuits across species (New Course) – Dr. Anqi Zhang
Neuro 101DD: Dopamine: A systems neuroscience perspective (New Course) – Drs. Mark Burrell and Malcolm Campbell
Neuro 101EE: Neuroscience of Psychedelic Experiences (New Course) – Dr. Chloe Jordan
Neuro 101FF: Building a Human Brain: Cortical Development from Cells to Circuits (New Course) – Dr. Rahel Kastli
Neuro 101GG: The Neuroscience of Artificial Neural Networks: From Inspiration to Analysis (New Course) – Dr. Andy Keller
Neuro 101L: Sleep Talk: Unraveling the Mystery of Sleep – Dr. Tony Cunningham, Q report
Neuro 101X : Stress Resilience & Susceptibility: Mechanisms & Models – Dr. Dominika Burek, Q report
Neuro 101AA: Alzheimer’s Disease: causes and consequences of brain degeneration – Dr. Ted Zwang, Q report
Neuro 101: The Many Levels of Memory (New Course) – Dr. Maddie Snyder
Neuro 101: Worth the effort? Mechanisms of motivated decision making (New Course) – Dr. Guillaume Pagnier
Neuro 101: Timing the Brain: Circadian Clocks and Their Role in Neural Function and Behavior (New Course) – Dr. Cristina DeOliveira
Neuro 101: NeuroMath (New Course) – Dr. Walid Yassine
Biomedical Engineering 131: Neuroengineering – Dr. Liu, Q report
Neuro 115: Cellular Basis of Neuronal Function – not offered 2025-’26
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 Q Report
Neuro 175: Principles of Cell Physiology – Dr. Bellono, Q report
[Neuro 180: Development, Plasticity, and Regeneration in the Mammalian Brain] – Dr. Macklis, Q Report – not offered 2025-’26
Psychology 1201: Your Brain on Drugs: Psychopharmacology – Dr. Lukas, Q Report
[Psychology 1309: Essentials of fMRI for Cognitive Neuroscientists] – Dr. Konkle, Q report – not offered 2025-’26
[Psychology 1451:Debugging the brain: Computational Approaches to Mental Dysfunction]– not offered 2025-’26
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 2024-’25
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 – this course examine the circuits that underly cognition] – Dr. Buckner, Q Report– not offered in 2025-26
[Psychology 1303: The Human Brain Then and Now] – Dr. Buckner, Q Report – not offered 2025-’26
Psychology 1325: The Emotional, Social Brain – Dr. Phelps, Q report
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 223: Neurophysiology and Neural Interfaces – Dr. Srinivasan, Q Report
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 2025
[Oxford, England (1 Intermediate Biology course)] – not offered summer 2025
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 2025-26
MBB 980V: Advances in Understanding the Wiring of the Brain: Neuroimaging and Big Data in Connectomics – Dr. Nickerson, Q report
[MBB 980CC: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: How Gut Microbes Modulate Human Cognition and Mental Health] – Dr. Oyarzun, Q report – not offered 2025-’26
MBB 980FF: The Cortisol Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Science of Stress (New Course) – Dr. Nelson
MBB 980X: Translational Neuroscience: Limits of Adaptation from Extreme Environments to Clinical Practice – Drs. Strangman and Ivkovic, Q report
[MBB 980Z: The Insanity Defense: Psychological, Neuroscientific, Legal, Philosophical, and Policy Issues] – Dr. Fersch, Q report – not offered in 2025-26
MBB 980GG: Neuroendocrine Pathways: Brain, Hormones, and Behavior (New Course) – Dr. Navarro
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, Q report
BE 110: Physiological Systems Analysis, Q report
CS 1090: Intro to Data Science, Q report
CS 1210: Intro to Theoretical Computer Science, Q report
CS 1240: Data Structures and Algorithms, Q report
CS 1430: Computer Networks, Q report
CS 1810: Machine Learning, Q report
CS 1820: Planning and Learning Methods in AI, Q report
CS 1870: Computational Linguistics] Q report
ENG-SCI/APMTH 115: Mathematical Modeling, Q report
ENG-SCI/APMTH 121: Intro to Optimization, Q report
ENG-SCI 155: Systems and Control, Q report
ENG-SCI 156: Signals and Communications, Q report
ENG-SCI 157: Biological Signal Processing, Q report
[MCB 111: Mathematics in Biology], Q report – not offered 2025-26
MCB 112: Biological Data Analysis, Q report
MCB 198: Advanced Math Techniques for Modern Biology, Q report
MCB 199: Statistical Thermodynamics and Quantitative Biology, Q report
Psych 1952: Multivariate Analysis in Psychology, Q report
Stat 111: Introduction to Statistical Inference, Q report
Stat 114: Introduction to Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics, Q report
Stat 115: Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Q report
Stat 117: Data Analysis in Modern Biostatistics, Q report
[Stat 120: Introduction to Bayesian Inference and Applications], Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Stat 121: Data Science], Q report – not offered 2025-26
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 – not offered 2025-26
Stat 185: Introduction to Unsupervised Learning, Q report
Stat 195: Introduction to Supervised Learning, Q report
[Stat 220: Bayesian Data Analysis], Q report – not offered 2025-26
Computer Science 1820: Planning and Learning Methods in AI – Dr. Gil, Q Report
Computer Science 1810: Machine Learning – Dr. Doshi-Velez Q Report
[Computer Science 1890 Autonomous Robots ]– Dr. Nagpal, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
Economics 1057: Game Theory with Applications to Social Behavior – Drs. Yoeli and Hoffman, Q Report
[Economics 980Z: Behavioral Finance] – Dr. Stein, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Economics 1036: Psychology & Economics of Beliefs] – Dr. Rabin, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Note: Education courses are offered at the graduate level, but are open to undergrads.
EDU AH125: Science-Driven Innovation in the Early Childhood Ecosystem – Dr. Shinkiff
[EDU H126: Typical and Atypical Neurodevelopment] – Drs. Nelson and Gaab – not offered 2024-25
EDST 102: Developmental Psychology – Dr. Harris, Q report
EDST 138: Neuroscience and Education: Foundations, Development, and Applications – Dr. Gaab, Q report
[Edu H115: Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, and Education] – Dr. Pollack – not offered 2024-25
[Edu H510A: Machine Learning and Human Learning] – Dr. Fadel – not offered 2024-25
[HistSci 172: Mental Health Matters: Recurring Themes and Unfinished Business] – Dr. Harrington, Q report – not offered 2025-26
HistSci 1771: Science and the Quest for Consciousness (New Course) – Dr. Harrington
HistSci 1780: Psychopathologies of Modern Life – Dr. Lunbeck, Q report
[HistSci 2770: Neuroscience and the Making of Consciousness Studies: Assumptions, Stakes, Untold Stories] – Dr. Harrington, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[HistSci 1472: Mental Health in Crisis: From War Neurosis to Covid-19] – Dr. Abi-Rached – not offered 2025-26
HistSci 1770: Broken Brains: A Patient-Centered History – Dr. Harrington, Q report
Human Evolutionary Biology 30: Monkey Style: Primate Social Behavior – Dr. Surbeck, Q Report
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1418: Endocrinology and Behavior: Research Seminar] – Dr. Lipson, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
Human Evolutionary Biology 130: Hormones and Behavior – Dr. Sabbi, Q Report
Human Evolutionary Biology 117: Evolution, Anatomy and Physiology of Sleep – Dr. Clark Matott, Q report
Human Evolutionary Biology 39: The Human Brain in the Animal Kingdom – Dr. Hecht, Q report
Human Evolutionary Biology 145: Thinking Through Human Cognition – Dr. Desmond
[Human Evolutionary Biology 1600: Evolution of Complex Traits] – Dr. Ruvolo, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
[Linguistics 132: Psychosemantics] – Dr. Davdison, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Linguistics 83: Language, Structure, and Cognition – Dr. Davidson, Q Report
[Philosophy 158A: Inference and Memory: Proseminar – Dr. Siegel, Q report] – not offered 2025-26
Philosophy 156: Philosophy of Mind – Dr. Chen, Q Report
[Philosophy 158B: Political Psychology – Dr. Siegel, Q report] – not offered 2025-26
Philosophy 158C: The Spontaneous Flow of Thought – Dr. Siegel, Q report
Psychology 1 (formerly SLS-20): Intro to Psychological Science – Dr. Gilbert (Fall), Q Report
Psychology 14: Cognitive Neuroscience – Drs. Schacter, Phelps, Q Report
Psychology 16: Developmental Psych – Dr. Snedeker, Q Report
[Psychology 980AC: Mood Disorders] – Dr. Roberts, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 980AD: Psychopathology and the Family – Dr. Knutsen, Q report
Psychology 1018: The Science and Psychology of Music – Dr. Piccolo, Q report
[Psychology 1033: Beauty in the Eyes of the Beholder: The Psychology of Visual Art] – Dr. Cynthia Guo, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Psychology 1305: Evolutionary Psychology] – Dr. Krasnow, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
[Psychology 1311: Precision Cognitive Neuroscience: Opportunities Afforded by Deep, Intensive Study Within Individuals] – Dr. Buckner, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1340: Imagination, Pretense, and Make-Believe Worlds]- Dr. Ullman, Q report
Psych 1351: The Brain’s Conductor: The Psychology of Focus, Flexibility, and Control (New Course) – Dr. Keglovits
Psychology 1454: Neuroscience Fiction: An Introduction to Cutting Edge Neuroscience through the Lens of Film and Television – Dr. Alvarez, Q report
[Psychology 1617: Language Development in the First Few Years of Life] – Dr. Bergelson, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Psychology 1619: The Making of Moral Minds] – Dr. Gautam, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1626:Language and the Mind (New Course) – Dr. Snedeker
[Psychology 1708: Controlling the Uncontrollable? Emotion Regulation and Well-Being] – Dr. Jones, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1750: Free Will, Responsibility, and Law]- Dr. Greene, Q Report
[Psychology 1811: Gender and Psychopathology] – Dr. Quigley, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1813: Technology and Mental Health – Dr. Singh, Q report
[Psychology 1861: Developmental Psychopathology] – Dr. Weisz, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
______
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 11: Cognition: How the Mind Works – Dr. Bergelson, Q report
Psychology 18: Psychopathology – Dr. Shingleton, Q Report
[Psychology 980JO: Understanding Autism] – Dr Knutsen, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Psychology 980TM: Transdiagnostic Models of Psychopathology: Theory, Research, and Treatment] – Dr. Evans, Q report – not offered 2025-26
[Psychology 1020: Too Much of a Good Thing? The Psychology of Reward] – Dr. Piccolo, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1021: Stress & Cognition: Implications for Empowered Learning – Dr. Tsai, Q report
Psychology 1023: The Mind-Body Connection: Exploring the Intersection between Psychology and Physical Health – Dr. Blanchard, Q report
Psychology 1032: Psychology of Addiction – Dr. Jordan, Q report
Psychology 1322: Decisions Big and Small: The Cognitive Science of Making Up Your Mind – Dr. Ullman, Q report
[Psychology 1355: The Adolescent Brain] – Dr. Somerville, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1618: Developmental Disabilities and Neurodiversity – Dr. Snedeker, Q report
Psychology 1654: What infants know, how children learn – Dr. Spelke, Q report
[Psychology 1702: The Emotional Mind] – Dr. Somerville, Q Report – not offered 2025-26
Psychology 1801: Anxiety Disorders – Dr. McNally, Q report
Psychology 1816: Broken Brains: Mechanisms and Markers of Mental Illness – Dr. Piccolo, 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 2025-26
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 2025-26
[Gen Ed 1125: Artificial & Natural Intelligence] – Dr. Murthy, Q report – not offered 2025-26
Neuro 91. Laboratory Research
Ryan W. Draft, Laura Magnotti, and Kristina Penikis
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.
Registration for Fall 2025:
1. Petition for enrollment on my.harvard.
2. In August, you will receive an email asking you to fill out the enrollment form together with your PI. This form must be submitted by Tues September 9 (open add/drop deadline) for you to stay enrolled in the course.
Neuro 99. Thesis Research
Ryan W. Draft, Laura Magnotti, and Kristina Penikis
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 (link) – 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) the Neuro Advising Office (undergraduate_neuroscience@fas.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:
Spring (May 2026 grads): Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 @ 11:59 PM ET
Due dates:
Fall: Monday, December 9th, 2024 @11:59 PM ET
Spring: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 @ 11:59 PM ET
Fall: Final Thesis (Off Cycle March 2025 grads)
Due: Friday, November 15, 2024 @5 PM ET
Spring: Final Thesis (May 2025 grads)
Due: Friday, March 14, 2025 @5 PM ET
Due dates:
Fall: Monday, December 9th, 2024 @11:59 PM ET
Spring: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 @ 11:59 PM ET
