Neuroscience foundations for engineers

Dear all, 

We look forward to exploring Biology and Neuroscience together with you in the coming semester. 

Your teachers will be Prof. Martin Schrimpf and Prof. Fides Zenk. We will be supported by your TAs David Tang, Ece Bilgic, Kenan Krakovic, Alejandro Rodriguez Guajardo.

Our goal is to equip you with basic biology and neuroscience knowledge to enable you to engage in these fields. This class takes a computational perspective to tackle these questions.

We consider these sources very helpful to follow through the course and also to catch up on biological concepts that you might encounter in general in your Master Studies. 

Book 1)
Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections (Reece, Jane B ; Taylor, Martha R ; Simon, Eric J) EPFL Library

Book 2)
Neuroscience (Purves, Dale; Augustine, George et al.) 

Here are books that we consider useful for thinking about how to model neural activity

Book 3)
Models of the Mind (Lindsay, Grace)

Book 4)
Neural Dynamics (Gerstner, Wulfram; Kistler, Werner M.; Naud, Richard; Paninski, Liam)

Important I:
On the 28.04 we will dedicate the exercise session to presentations from you. Please chose a topic and enter your name. We will split the course into two groups. Within each group each topic should be presented by a pair of two students.
The topics are in this google doc. The presentation should be around 10 min long followed by 2-3 questions from the audience. More details will follow. You will have time to work and get help from the TA's concerning your presentations during the exercise session on the 14.04.

Important II:
Our course includes two excursions to Geneva to visit the NeuroX Insitute and the associated facilities for Human Neuroscience and Human Cellular Neuroscience. These excursions are voluntary. Please sign up if you agree with taking the trip to Geneva. 
You can find the google doc here. 

Important III:
We just got the info for the final exam from IS Academia. The exam will take place on the 01.07.2025 in AAC231.

Please also take the opportunity to give feedback for the course so far in IS Academia until 23.03 mindnight.

For this first class, we will exceptionally have two lectures.

You can prepare by reading the Chapter 3-4 and 10-11. 

Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections (Reece, Jane B ; Taylor, Martha R ; Simon, Eric J) EPFL Library

Monday, Feb 17 (INF 119):

• Lecture - Introduction to the Course
  
• Break
• Lecture - Introduction to Cellular Biology
• Q&A

Tuesday, Feb 18 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture - Basics of Genetics and Development Part 1
• Break
• Lecture - Basics of Genetics and Development Part 2
• Q&A

This week you will learn about how nerve cells function and generate signals. You will recapitulate the basic Biology concepts of last week in the Exercises.

You can prepare by reading the Chapter 2-4.

Neuroscience (Purves, Dale; Augustine, George et al.) 

Monday, Feb 24 (INF 119, INF 213):

• TA guided recap of Unit 1
  
• Clarification of your question
• Break
• Work on the exercises

Tuesday, Feb 25 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Introduction to Neuroscience - Generation of action potentials Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Introduction to Neuroscience - Generation of action potentials  Part 2
• Break
• Q&A

This week you will learn about how nerve cells propagate signals and communicate with each other. You will recapitulate the Basics of Neuroscience and Action potentials from last week in the Exercises.

You can prepare by reading the Chapter 5-6. 

Neuroscience (Purves, Dale; Augustine, George et al.) 

Monday, Mar 3 (INF 119, INF 213):

• TA guided recap of Unit 2
  
• Clarification of your question
• Break
• Work on the exercises
  

Tuesday, Mar 4 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Neural Communication and synaptic transmission Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Neural Communication and synaptic transmission Part 2
• Break
• Q&A

Monday, Mar 10 (INF 119, INF 213):

Tuesday, Mar 11 (CM 1120):

This week, you will learn about how movements are initiated by electrical signals in the brain. Which circuits do they follow, and how do the muscles respond?

You can prepare by reading the Chapters 16-19. 

Neuroscience (Purves, Dale; Augustine, George et al.) 

Monday, Apr 14 (INF 119, INF 213):

• The TAs will be there to help you prepare your presentations for next week and clarify your questions.

Tuesday, Apr 15 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Motor Control at the Molecular Level Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Motor Control at the Molecular Level Part 2
• Break
• Q&A

Monday, Apr 28 (INF 119, INF 213, INF019):

• We will hear the presentations you prepared within your group.

Tuesday, Apr 29 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Cognitive Neuroscience I - Systems Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Cognitive Neuroscience I - Systems Part 2
• Break
• Q&A

This week, you will learn about how neural circuits are built in development, how memories are stored and how synaptic connections keep on updating throughout life. We will look at disorders affecting cognitive functions and molecules that alter them. We will have a recap on methods to image brain function.

You can prepare by reading the Chapters 7-8 and 23, 25. 

Neuroscience (Purves, Dale; Augustine, George et al.) 

Monday, May 05 (Campus Biotech Geneva, location):

• We will visit the Human Neuroscience Platform at the NeuroX Institute and get a tour to the brain imaging setups.

Tuesday, May 06 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Cognitive Neuroscience II - Molecular Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Cognitive Neuroscience II - Molecular Part 2
• Break
• Q&A
• Presentation of Alexis and Guillaume

This week you will learn about techniques in molecular genetics applied to neuroscience (CRISPR-Cas9, Optogenetics..). We will talk about disease models and the genetic basis and learn about iPSC models in understanding diseases and therapy. 

Monday, May 12 (INF 119, INF 213):

• TA guided recap of Unit (3), 9 and 11
  
• Clarification of your questions
• Break
• Work on the exercises
  

Tuesday, May 13 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Molecular Genetics in Neuroscience Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Molecular Genetics in Neuroscience Part 2
• Break
• Presentation of Maximillien & Margaux (TMS) and Madeline & Lucas (Neuropixels)
• Q&A

This week you will learn about molecular targets for neuropharmacological agents, the principles of how to develop treatments and deliver them to the nervous system. We will have case studies of developed drugs and try to understand their molecular action. 

Monday, May 19 (Campus Biotech Geneva, location):

• We will visit the Human Cellular Neuroscience Platform at the NeuroX Institute and learn how cellular and in vitro model systems can help to treat diseases of the nervous system.

Tuesday, May 20 (CM 1120) :

• Lecture -  Neuropharmacology and Drug Design Part 1
• Break
• Lecture -  Neuropharmacology and Drug Design Part 2
• Break
• Q&A
• Presentation Margaux and Maximilien

This week will help you to go through your notes and ask all relevant questions in order to be prepared for the exam. Please use this offer!

Monday, May 26 (INF 119, INF 213):

• TA guided recap of Unit 12 and 13
  
• Clarification of your questions
• Break
• Work on the exercises
  

Tuesday, May 27 (CM 1120) :

• Recap of the lectures 
• Discussion on future directions in Neuroscience 
• Break
• Discussion of Example Exam questions
• Clarification of your question
• Q&A

The exam will take place on the 01.07.2025 in AAC231.