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FDD3403 Advanced Topics in Brain Science 7.5 credits

The aim of this course is to provide a coherent and holistic view of the classical and modern scientific literature on advanced topics in brain science to doctoral students. To this end, in this course students will read and discuss both classical and recent research papers on selected topics. The topics and papers for the course will be selected by faculty members. The set of selected papers will be updated in every edition of the course. Students in the course will not only discuss these papers in detail but also will explore the new research findings relate to classical theories. In addition, they will identify links between their own work relates to classical ideas and new research in other topics.

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Autumn 2024 Start 28 Oct 2024 programme students

Course location

KTH Campus

Duration
28 Oct 2024 - 13 Jan 2025
Periods
P2 (7.5 hp)
Pace of study

50%

Application code

51093

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Places are not limited

Target group
No information inserted
Planned modular schedule
[object Object]
Schedule
Schedule is not published
Part of programme
No information inserted

Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted
Contact

Arvind Kumar (arvkumar@kth.se)

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus FDD3403 (Autumn 2021–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus FDD3403 (Autumn 2021–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course disposition

Teaching/learning activities

The course will contain three main activities. 

Seminars: Each student will read a set of classical and recent research papers on a selected topic and make 30 min presentations. There will be a total of 10 seminars covering 10 different topics. The seminar topic for each student will be chosen such that it does not overlap with the doctoral research topic. When there are fewer than 10 students, faculty members will give lectures on selected topics.

Written report: Each student will prepare 3-5 page review of the research topic assigned to them.

Peer review: Each student will also do peer-review of at least two written reports.

Course contents

Neural hardware; Neural coding; Receptive fields; Excitation-inhibition balance; Neural assemblies; Synaptic plasticity; Learning and memory; Methods to read and manipulate brain activity; Brain theory

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

  • describe and discuss major theoretical and experimental advances in brain sciences
  • describe prominent theories of information processing in the biological brain
  • describe links between different brain theories and their own research work
  • critically evaluate the novelty and advances made by recent literature
  • identify extensions of existing research work
  • define new research problems and methods

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Student should have taken a course equivalent to DD2401 Neuroscience. Background in dynamical systems, stochastic processes, information theory is desirable but not essential.

Recommended prerequisites

Student should have taken a course equivalent to the second cycle course DD2401 Neuroscience. Background in dynamical systems, stochastic processes, information theory is desirable but not essential.

Equipment

None

Literature

Classic and recent papers chosen from top scientific journals such as Nature, Science, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, J. Neuroscience, PLoS Comp. Biology, Neural Computation.

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • EXA1 - Examination, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Students will be evaluated based on oral presentation, a written report and review of at least one written report of another student.

Other requirements for final grade

To pass the course the students must fulfill the following criteria:

  • participate in at least 80% course meetings
  • write a short review on specific research topic which is not directly overlapping with student’s doctoral research
  • present the review of a specific research topic
  • peer-review at least one review report written by another student

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

This course does not belong to any Main field of study.

Education cycle

Third cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Arvind Kumar (arvkumar@kth.se)

Postgraduate course

Postgraduate courses at EECS/Computational Science and Technology