Course Description
Students will gain an understanding of neural and computational principles of motor control and learning through critical literature reading, and gain hands-on experience with modern research techniques. Applied topics such as brain-machine interface, movement disorders, and rehabilitation strategies will also be visited.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to format their term papers in the form of a grant proposal, following NSF/NIH predoctoral fellowship proposal guidelines. The proposal should outline a plan of work for a three-year period (thus, a two-experiment proposal should be sufficient, though you can outline follow-up studies if you like).
Athena Title
Neural Control of Human Moveme
Prerequisite
CBIO 2200-2200L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. define the fundamental computational principles of motor control and learning; 2. identify neural substrates that support human motor control and learning; 3. analyze neural and computational principles in normal and abnormal motor control and learning; 4. recognize and describe modern research methods in the neural control of movement; 5. identify and demonstrate applications to rehabilitation strategies for various movement disorders; 6. critically evaluate and apply scientific literature using the concepts, principles, and methods of scientific inquiry; 7. effectively formulate research questions, design, and conduct experiments, and analyze data using modern research tools; and 8. effectively communicate scientific ideas through scientific writing.
Topical Outline
1. Evolutionary perspective of motor skills 2. Development of motor skills over the human life span 3. Complexity and hierarchical organization of motor control 4. Feedforward and feedback motor control 5. Motor planning and decision making 6. Motor learning and memory 7. Volitional action and habit formation 8. From action to thought 9. Impairment and rehabilitation of human movement 10. Computational neuroscience of motor control and learning
Syllabus