一、課程說明(Course Description)
Being the most complex matter in the universe, the brain is a dynamical system
consisting of more than 100 billion interaction neurons. To understand how brain
works, it is essential to understand mathematical theories and computational
models developed for neurons and neural circuits. This course will provide an
introduction to theories and models in neuron- and circuit-level neuroscience for
beginning graduate students. The goal is to understand how individual neurons work
and how functions of neural circuits are achieved through interacting neurons.

The following topics will be covered:
1.Mathematical theories for ion channels and membrane potential.
2.Computational models for single neurons at different levels of details.
3.Analyzing behavior of single neurons using theories of dynamical systems
(attractors, bifurcation etc).
4.Dynamics and functions of neural circuits.

Students should have basic knowledge in calculus, physics and differential
equations.


二、指定用書(Text Books)
1.Peter Dayan & L. F. Abbott. Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and
Mathematical Modeling of Neural Systems. The MIT Press (2005)
2.Eugene M. Izhikevich. Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience: The Geometry of
Excitability and Bursting. The MIT Press (2006)


三、參考書籍(References)
1.Christof Koch and Idan Segev. Methods in Neuronal Modeling: From Ions to
Networks. The MIT Press (1998).
2.Wulfram Gerstner, Werner M. Kistler. Spiking Neuron Models. Cambridge University
Press (2002)
3.Fred Rieke, David Warland, Rob de Ruyter van Steveninck, William Bialek. Spikes:
Exploring the Neural Code. The MIT Press (1996)


四、教學方式(Teaching Method)
1.Lecture supplemented with computer demonstrations of neural simulations.
2.Offered in English.



五、教學進度(Syllabus)


六、成績考核(Evaluation)
1.Attendance, preparation, participation
2.Homeworks (bi-weekly) (60%)
3.Final project (40%)