Models of the Neuron
4.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
Single-neuron modeling, emphasizing the use of computational models as links between the properties of neurons at several levels of detail. Topics include thermodynamics of ion flow in aqueous environments, biology and biophysics of ion channels, gating, nonlinear dynamics as a way of studying the collective properties of channels in a membrane, synaptic transmission, integration of electrical activity in multi-compartment dendritic tree models, and properties of neural networks. Students will study the properties of computational models of neurons; graduate students will develop a neuron model using data from the literature. Recommended Course Background: AS.110.302 or equivalent. Meets with EN.580.639.
Fall 2014
Professor: Eric Young
Students enjoyed the way this course covered a wide variety of intriguing topics. Many students believed the biggest shortcoming of the course was a heavy emphasis on assignments using MATLAB and they thought the course could be improved by including fewer homework exercises of this type. They also thought homework could be more balanced between the units taught by each instructor. Students felt it would be useful for prospective participants to know that previous knowledge of MATLAB and cel biology would be useful for this class.