Spring, 2020, ECS 189G, 001, CRN 84470 (Undergrads) / ECS 289G, CRN 84471 (Grads)

189G vs. 289G

Previously, at CU Boulder, this course was taught as one class with both undergraduate and graduate students – here at UC Davis that is not possible so 189G is the undergraduate version and 289G is the graduate version. The basic material and coursework (simulation exercises) are the same between the two (with just a few extra questions for grads), but the expectations for grads are higher, and the separate discussion sessions should allow for a more advanced level of discussion.

Covid-19 Online Version

Due to the virus, the course will be entirely online, with lectures available on YouTube, and an interactive zoom discussion session during the scheduled lecture times shown above. The zoom sessions will be recorded and available on the canvas site for the benefit of those who were not able to make it – if you do not want to be recorded, you can communicate through email, canvas, or the zulip (slack-alike) site.

This course should translate reasonably well to the online format, as the most important learning experiences come from interactively using the simulation software to understand how networks of neurons function. The free online textbook, recorded lectures, and interactive zoom-based discussions all provide support for all the neuroscience, cognitive science, and computer science background behind the models.

Goals

How does the brain secrete the mind? This course will introduce you to the ideas and methods in computational cognitive neuroscience that have been applied to answering this question. Specifically, we focus on simulating cognitive and perceptual processes using neural network models. These models provide a bridge between behavioral and biological levels of analysis. We start by understanding the basic computational and biological properties of individual neurons and networks of neurons, which give rise to basic processing mechanisms like spreading activation, inhibition, and multiple constraint satisfaction. We then discuss learning mechanisms (self-organizing and error-driven), which all networks of neurons require to perform any reasonably complex task. We will examine a range of cognitive phenomena within this framework, including attention, memory, language, and higher-level cognition. The overarching goal is to use simulations to help us to understand how our neurons give rise to our thoughts.

Prerequisites

Due to the scope of topics covered and diversity of student backgrounds, we do not have formal prerequisites for this course. If you are a Psych or Cog Sci major, typically you will have had the relevant Intro, Cognitive, Bio, and Stats courses, which provide basic background in cognitive psychology and neurobiology that will be useful for the course. Neuroscience majors also will have had relevant coursework and should be in fine shape. Computer science / math / etc students may not have had as much Psych and Neuro background, but the course is designed to be fully self-contained and all such background will be covered in the course, although more attention to the textbook readings might be required. Students who have a sincere interest and/or additional background in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and/or computers (or their relationships) will find this course more engaging. While the models we will be using are mathematically based, only algebra and some simple calculus-level concepts are discussed (and no actual math is required from undergraduates – grad students are expected to solve a few simple algebra equations). The focus will be on intuitive and practical applications, not on theoretical derivations. Computer programming experience is not required, because the models are accessible via a graphical interface, but it is beneficial, especially for exploring beyond the “canned” models.

Lab

There is a weekly lab session that is supervised by the teaching assistant, where students obtain hands-on experience with the computer simulation explorations. These explorations are the centerpiece of the course, and provide a unique exploratory learning opportunity. You will perform many what-if scenarios to understand what aspects of the brain’s biology are important for producing specific cognitive phenomena. You will simulate the effects of brain damage in these models, to understand neuropsychology (the study of brain-damaged patients). The computer models enable complete control and dynamic, colorful visualization of these explorations, providing a unique ability to understand how cognition emerges from the brain. You will document these explorations by answering the simulation exercises questions (to be worked on during the lab sessions). You should be able to do most, hopefully all, of the required homework during these lab sessions.

Lab does meet the first week of class, to get you up-to-speed on the software installation etc.

Evaluation

Your grade will be based on three components in the following proportions:

  • Simulation exercises: 70%
  • Reading reactions: 20%
  • Class participation: 10%

Simulation Exercises

We will be using the new version of the simulation exercises, on github.com: https://github.com/CompCogNeuro/sims. The textbook itself should also be ported over to github before class starts as well. You should answer all of the exercise questions for each chapter, and submit to the class Canvas site on or before the date shown in the schedule below. Although you will be working on these exercises in the labs, you must write them up individually. We want to see that each person individually understands the material, so this should be evident in your writeup. It is best to write down results and first drafts of answers as you work through the exercises – they can take a while to run and you don’t want to have to run them repeatedly. Exercises turned in late will be penalized 5% for each day after the due date.

Important: – in the Neuron exercise, the questions marked advanced are only required for graduate students – undergrads are welcome to do them if you want, but they are not required. These are questions 2.4 and 2.6.

Reading reactions

For each chapter in the online Computational Cognitive Neuroscience Textbook, you write up a few sentences about the topic you found most interesting in the chapter and why, and in particular any interesting questions that occurred to you that might be useful to discuss during class (for shy students, this can also be a great way to ask your questions and can really help with your participation grade if you otherwise don’t feel comfortable participating in discussions during class). These reading reactions are designed to ensure that you are keeping up on the reading and to inform us about your interests. Reading reactions should be submitted to the Canvas system for this course, prior to the class meeting when they are due (i.e., by 12pm noon).

Class Participation

Productive participation in class discussion is encouraged to help you get the most out of this course. You are expected to read the text chapters the week they are assigned and to come to class prepared to actively participate in discussion.

Grading Policy

Grades are not curved; they are based on percentages (note: Canvas truncates points, so a 92.9 is still an A- for example):

  97-100 A+    87-89 B+   77-79 C+   67-69 D+
  93-96  A     83-86 B    73-76 C    63-66 D
  90-92  A-    80-82 B-   70-72 C-   60-62 D-

Simulation Pragmatics

See https://github.com/CompCogNeuro/sims for the full listing of the simulation projects and associated homework questions, and instructions for getting everything running.

Schedule

Wk Date Tuesday Ch Due Date Thursday Ch Due
1 31 Mar Introduction 1 2 Apr Neurons 2 RR1
2 7 Apr Neurons RR2 9 Apr Networks 3 RR3, HW2*
3 14 Apr Networks 16 Apr Learning 4 RR4
4 21 Apr Learning 23 Apr Learning HW3*
5 28 Apr Brain Areas 5 RR5 30 Apr Perception 6 RR6, HW4*
6 5 May Perception 7 May Perception
7 12 May Motor 7 RR7 14 May Motor HW6*
8 19 May Memory 8 RR8 21 May Memory 8 HW7*
9 26 May Language 9 RR9 28 May Language 8 HW8*
10 2 Jun Executive 10 RR10 4 Jun Executive 9 HW9*
10 9 Jun – finals – HW10

Ch = Chapter in text to read, Due = RR = reading reaction for given chapter, HW = homework for given chapter (submit on canvas or gradescope). IMPORTANT Homeworks shown as due on Thursday are actually due on Sunday! to give you plenty of time after the Friday lab, for those in 189G. The due dates in canvas / gradescope are always the ones to follow!

Online YouTube Lectures

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu02O8xRZn7xtNx03Rlq6xMRdYcQgEpar

Lecture Slides for Download

All the slides for the lectures are available for review and for printing prior to lecture, to make your note-taking more efficient – just annotate and underline and jot down key points or whatever, instead of slavishly transcribing and thereby likely missing all the key points!

PDF files are in a printout format with 6 pages per printed page (better for printing).

University Policies

Last revision: October 14, 2020 CCNLab Lab Wiki