Graduate Courses BIOE 2696

BIOE 2696 - Control theory in neuroscience

Instructors: Aaron Batista (BioE), Zhi-Hong Mao (ECE)

Credits: 3

Term: Spring

Description: Control theory has been an important tool for understanding the organization and operation of the nervous systems. 
This course introduces the general principles of control theory and its application in neuroscience. Students will learn or review fundamentals of control theory, and will be introduced to recent discoveries in the neuroscience of motor control. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply control theory techniques to model neural systems and behavior. Control theory topics include the Laplace transform, stability, root locus design, adaptive control, optimal control. Neuroscience topics include posture and balance, saccadic eye movement control, neurophysiology of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of differential equations and Fourier transforms. Previous coursework in biology is required, and coursework in neuroscience is preferred.

Time: Monday 4:30 pm—5:45 (lecture); Wednesday 4:30 pm—5:45 (lecture)
and 5:50—6:45 (recitation).

Instructors:

Aaron Batista, Room 4073 BST3, 412-383-5494, apb10@pitt.edu. Office
hours: Thursdays 12:00 pm—2:00 pm. Location: Victoria Hall
lounge.
Zhi-Hong Mao, 434 Benedum Hall, 412-624-9674, maozh@engr.pitt.edu.
Office hours: Tuesdays 4:00 pm—6:00 pm. Location: 434 Benedum
Hall.

Teaching Assistant: Dan Bacher, dhb10@pitt.edu. Office hours: Fridays 1:00 pm—3:00 pm.
Location: 1073 Benedum Hall.

Guest Lecturers: Doug Weber, Pat Loughlin, Mark Redfern, Raj Gandhi, Peter Strick, Steve
Massaquoi, Robert Turner, et al.

Textbook: No textbook required. Notes will be provided on the website
morning of lecture, or distributed at the start of lecture.

Website: http://www.engr.pitt.edu/electrical/faculty-staff/mao/2696/

Evaluation: Homework and class participation 20%, literature report 15%,
project 50%, and midterm exam 15%. Schedule: