Course overview
This course discusses single neuron modeling, including molecular models of
channels and channel gating, Hodgkin-Huxley style models of membrane currents, non-linear
dynamics as a way of understanding membrane excitability, neural integration
through cable theory, and network computation. The goals of the course are to
understand how neurons work as biological computing elements and to give
students experience with modeling techniques as applied to complex biological
systems.
The course meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on the Homewood campus in Hodson 211. The MWF classes are lectures. There will also be a Tuesday recitation and homework-help class F 4:00 in Hodson 203; this is strongly recommended for all students. The course is taught by Eric Young, 505 Traylor at the Medical School, telephone 410-955-3164 (eyoung@jhu.edu). Office hours are by arrangement. The prerequisites are mathematics through linear algebra and differential equations plus an introduction to neuroscience (e.g. 580.422, 080.205, or 080.304); introductory signal and system theory (e.g. 580.222 or 520.213-214) is helpful.
There is no required text. Instead readings will be assigned from the literature and from several of the following books. All the books are on reserve in the library. Biophysics of Computation by C. Koch is an excellent book that covers most of the material in the course. Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology by D. Johnston and S. Wu covers some of the material in a more elementary fashion and P. Dayan and L.F. Abbott Theoretical Neuroscience provides a more modern view of some topics. Several chapters from Methods in Neuronal Modeling (2nd ed.) edited by C. Koch and I. Segev will be used. An excellent and comprehensive book on membrane physiology is Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes, (3rd ed.) by B. Hille. This book covers ion channels in more depth than those above; it is required reading for anyone seriously interested in this subject. Additional references include the following: G.M. Shepherd, The Synaptic Organization of the Brain (4th ed.) is a good introduction to neural systems for persons with no previous experience. S.H. Strogatz Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos cover aspects of nonlinear dynamics and network theory that will be discussed in the course; some material from H.R. Wilson, Spikes Decisions and Actions will also be used. The book Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience by E.M. Izhikevich provides a useful view of 2nd-order nonlinear systems of the type used in neuroscience. A good overview of network theory is J. Hertz, A Krogh, and R.G. Palmer, Introduction to the Theory of Neural Computation. Finally, J.J.B. Jack, D. Noble, and R.W. Tsien, Electric Current Flow in Excitable Cells contains detailed discussions of older work, especially useful for cable theory.
Weekly homework assignments will be given. Solutions should be handed in
during class on the due date and will be loosely graded. Two computer
modeling projects will be assigned during the term. The grade for graduate
students will be based on the midterm (20%), final (30%), the modeling projects
(40%), and the homework (10%). Undergraduate's grades will be based on the
midterm (30%), first modeling project (30%), final (30%), and homework (10%).
Students are encouraged to discuss homework problems with colleagues, but the
final product that is handed in should be the student's own work. Modeling
projects must be done individually. A conscientious homework record will
contribute to raising marginal grades.
Course
schedule Updated August 22, 2014
Lectures
are MWF 9-10 in Hodson 211. Parentheses indicates no
class meeting on that day.
Aug
29, Sep. 3, 5 - Introduction; review of neurophysiology and thermodynamics. Equilibria, electrodiffusion I-V
relationships;
8,
10, 12 - Cellular steady state. Biological membranes, ion transporters,
channels.
15,
17, 19 - Kcsa and similar channels. Barrier models of channel permeation. Kcsa permeation model.
22,
24, 26 - Transporter models, voltage clamp analysis, gating; Hodgkin-Huxley and
similar models.
Sep.
29, Oct. 1, 3 - Phase-plane analysis of nonlinear systems; model reduction,
linearization; classification of behavior near equilibrium points
6,
8, 10 - Simulation methods; limit cycles; bifurcations, bursting.
13,
15, 16, (17) - Role of calcium; varieties of channels. Corticothalamic
neurons. Regulation of ion channel density.
MIDTERM EXAM OCT 20, 2013
20,
22, 24 – Midterm exam. Synaptic transmission and neuromodulation. Dendritic
trees, distribution of inputs on dendrites.
27, 29, 31
- Cable equation for dendritic trees; solutions to the cable equation; finite
cylinders.
FIRST MODELING
PROJECT DUE Oct 31, 5:00 P.M.
Nov.
3, 5, 7 - Transfer functions in dendritic trees; Equivalent cylinder.
10,
12, 14 - Real dendritic trees, synaptic coupling to the soma, arrangement of
synapses, subunits.
17, 19, 21 - Spines and calcium.
Plasticity; neural integration.
(24, 26, 28) – No class,
Thanksgiving
Dec.1, 3, 5 - Network learning
rules; Hopfield network; Liapunov functions and the Cohen-Grossberg theorem.
FINAL
EXAM Sat. December 13, 2-5 P.M.
SECOND MODELING PROJECT DUE DEC 19, 5:00 P.M.
Homework
Homework assignments will be given weekly, and are generally due on Mondays by
the end of class. They can be submitted in class emailed to Eric Young.
Homework will not be accepted after solutions are posted. The links below will
return pdf files of the homework sets and solutions.
Solution sets will be available for downloading after the due-date of the
homework.
Course notes
Class lectures (updated as the
course goes on)
Other relevant notes
Modeling projects
Two computer modeling projects will be assigned. All work on the modeling
projects must be done individually.
|
Project #1 : Due October 31, 2014 by
5:00 P.M. |
|
Project #2 : Due December 19, 2014 by
5:00 P.M. |
Previous exams
Copies of previous midterms and finals
are posted below, along with solutions.