Classics in Neuroscience

By Prof. Varadhan | IIT Madras

Learners enrolled: 1424 | Exam registration: 190

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course will focus on the following objectives:

1. To explore the origins of modern neuroscience.

2. To gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the creative process in neuroscience.

3. To understand how the early studies in neuroscience formed the basis of modern neuroscience.

4. To explore the current research issues in the field and how much advancement we have made since the initial discoveries.

5. To learn how the initial discoveries were made and how we can learn from them to guide our current research.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: PG/Ph.D. students working in Neuroscience, Movement Science, Biomedical Engineering, Physical therapy, Physical therapy and Allied Health sciences, Medicine

PREREQUISITES: High school level Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. Basic course in neuroscience can help.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: This is a course on research aspects and the history that shaped modern neuroscience, not directly relevant to industry. But it might inspire Ph.D. students in their own research and may be come withtruly novel industry relevant ideas.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Biological Sciences & Bioengineering Bioengineering Biosciences
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	20 Jan 2025
End Date :	11 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends :	03 Feb 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	28 Feb 2025
Exam Date :	27 Apr 2025 IST

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1:

Topic 1: Introduction: Why Study History? Why the 1940s and 1950s?

Topic 2: Genes: Starting with DNA

Week 2:

Topic 1: Signaling Molecules: The First Growth Factor

Topic 2: Signaling Molecules: The First Neurotransmitters in the Brain

Week 3:

Topic 1: Cell Biology and the Synapse

Topic 2: Physiology: The Action Potential

Week 4:

Topic 1: Physiology: Synaptic Potentials and Receptor Potentials

Topic 2: Functional Organization of Neurons and Dendrites

Week 5:

Topic 1: Neural Circuits: Spinal Cord, Retina, Invertebrate Systems

Topic 2: Neural Circuits: Cortical Columns and Cortical Processing

Week 6:

Topic 1: Neural Systems: The Neural Basis of Behavior

Topic 2: Learning and Memory: Donald Hebb, Brenda Milner, and H. M.

Week 7:

Topic 1: Neurology: Foundations of Brain Imaging

Topic 2: Neurosurgery: From Cushing to Penfield

Week 8:

Topic 1: Neuropsychiatry: The Breakthrough in Psychopharmacology

Topic 2: Theoretical Neuroscience: The Brain as a Computer and the Computer as a Brain

Week 9: Classic Nobel Prize winning works: Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Robert Barany, Charles Sherrington

Week 10: Classic Nobel Prize winning works: Charles Sherrington (continued), Edgar Adrian, Hodgkin & Huxley

Week 11: Classic Nobel Prize winning works: Bernard Katz, Roger Sperry, Hubel & Wiesel

Week 12: Classic Nobel Prize winning works: Hubel & Wiesel (continued), Jens Christian Skou, Arvid Carlsson & Eric Kandel.

Books and references

Creating Modern Neuroscience: The Revolutionary 1950s by Gordon M Shepherd

Instructor bio

Prof. Varadhan

IIT Madras

Prof. Varadhan SKM is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engg at IIT Madras. His research interests are in the area of Neural control of movements, Motor learning, and Dexterous object manipulation in the presence of static and dynamic perturbations (See website for more details). He teaches courses on Biomechanics, Neuromechanics, Engg Mechanics, Biomedical Instrumentation, Quantitative Physiology.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: April 27, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support