Ph.D. in Neuroscience for the 21st Century

Course of Study

During the first year of their Ph.D., all students take the Neuroscience Core Course. The goal of this course is to provide a common foundation, so that all students have a strong knowledge base and a common language across the breadth of Neuroscience, a highly diverse and multidisciplinary field. To the extent possible, the course aims to teach an overview of all topics through a mix of hands-on laboratory experience, lecture, and computational modeling.

Ph.D. students must also choose and take two elective courses from those listed below. Rotate, during the first year, in up to three laboratories, participating in research projects during each rotation. Pass their general exam, which will include both a breadth component and a thesis proposal depth component, by the end of their second year. Most importantly students must carry out original research leading to a Ph.D. thesis.

QCN Track

Across the board, from molecular biology to physics to psychology, Princeton's world-class faculty is particularly strong in quantitative and theoretical investigations. The same is true in Neuroscience. In recognition of this, a Quantitative and Computational Neuroscience track exists within the Neuroscience Ph.D. Students in this track must fulfill all the requirements of the Neuroscience Ph.D. In addition, their electives should be in quantitative courses, and their Ph.D. research should be in quantitative and/or computational neuroscience.

List of Courses for all Neuroscience PhD. Students (Further information on the courses below can be found on the Princeton Registrar's web site.)

Neuroscience Core Course. This is the foundation for coursework in the Neuroscience Ph.D. In terms of time and effort, this course counts as two regular courses for each of the two semesters. Lectures, laboratory work, and computational studies are intertwined throughout the course.


Module 1: Neural Development and Plasticity (Wet Lab and Lecture)
Module 2: Cellular Neurophysiology (Wet Lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 3: Neural Coding (Wet Lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 4: Visual Neuroscience (fMRI and behavior lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 5: Executive Function (fMRI and EEG lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 6: Genetics and Imaging (Wet Lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 7: Evolution and Brain Structure (Lecture)
Module 8: Motor Control and Sequential Action (fMRI and TMS lab, Lecture, and Computational lab)
Module 9: Long-term memory (Lecture and Computational lab)



Neuroscience Electives

APC/MAT 351Topics in Mathematical Modeling - Mathematical Neuroscience This course combines modeling with applied math methods including PDE, probability, stochastic ODE, dynamical systems, cells as electrical circuits, Hodgkin-Huxely equation describing spikes in single neurons & bursting neurons (e.g., breathing, heartbeat, other rhythms), propagation of action potentials, reaction-diffusion equations, Hopfield-Grossberg neural nets, leaky accumulator models, drift-diffusion models, information theoretic approaches to analysis of neural spike trains.



MOL 408/PSY404 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience A survey of fundamental principles in neurobiology at the biophysical, cellular, and system levels. Lectures will address the basis of the action potential, synaptic transmission, sensory physiology and motor control, development of the central nervous system, synaptic plasticity, and disease states. A central theme will be the understanding of systems phenomena in terms of cellular mechanisms. (can be used as a first course in neuroscience for entering graduate students in Neuroscience who are coming from a different field and are not yet ready for the core curriculum)



MOL 431 Advanced Topics in Developmental Neurobiology Contemporary approaches to the study of neural development, emphasizing genetic and molecular techniques. Topics include generation, patterning, differentiation, migration and survival of neurons and glia, axon growth and guidance, target selection, synapse formation/elimination, activity-dependent remodeling of connectivity, and the relationship between neural development and behavior. Reading will be mainly from the primary literature with textbook reading provided for background. Classroom participation is required.



MOL 437/537 Computational Neuroscience Introduction to the biophysics of nerve cells and synapses, and the mathematical descriptions of neurons and neural networks. How do networks of neurons represent information, and how do they compute with it? The course will survey computational modeling and data analysis methods for neuroscience. Representation of visual information, navigation through space, short-term memory and decision-making will be some of the issues considered from a mathematical/computational viewpoint.



MOL 508 Advanced Topics in Neurobiology This course will focus on original scientific literature and class discussion with readings that center on major problems and current research in neuroscience.



MOL 510 Introduction to Biological Dynamics Designed for students in the biological sciences, this course focuses on the application of mathematical methods to biological problems. Intended to provide a basic grounding in mathematical modeling and data analysis for students who might not have pursued further study in mathematics. Topics include differential equations, linear algebra, difference equations, and probability. Each topic will have a lecture component and computer laboratory component. Students will work extensively with the computing package Matlab. No previous computing experience necessary.



MOL 549 Laboratory in Neuroscience The biophysics of neurons and synapses will be explored using electrophysiological and optical recording methods.



PSY 330 Introduction to Connectionist Models: Bridging Between Brain and Mind

A fundamental goal of cognitive neuroscience is to understand how psychological functions such as attention, memory, language, and decision-making arise from computations performed by assemblies of neurons in the brain. This course will provide an introduction to the use of connectionist models (also known as neural network or parallel distributed processing models) as a tool for exploring how psychological functions are implemented in the brain, and how they go awry in patients with brain damage.


PSY 336 The Diversity of Brains The premise of this seminar is that an understanding of the neural basis of behavior can be gained by examining species-typical behaviors. Each animal species has evolved neural solutions to specific problems posed to them by their environment. The course will focus primarily on forebrain mechanisms in mammals, highlighting the unique environmental problems that a species must solve and the ways in which the brains of these animals implement their solutions. Some example model systems include prey capture by bats, monogamy and aggression in voles, and eye gaze processing by primates.



PSY338/NEU338 Animal learning and decision making – psychological, computational and neural perspectives Seminar designed to expose students to a modern, integrative view of animal learning phenomena from experimental psychology, through the lens of computational models and current neuroscientific knowledge. At the psychological level we will concentrate on classical and instrumental conditioning. Computationally, we will view these as exemplars of prediction learning and action selection, the pillars of reinforcement learning. Neurally, we will focus on the roles of dopamine and the basal ganglia at the systems level. Students will see how the study of animal decision making can inform us about the computations that take place in the brain.



PSY 407 Developmental Neuroscience An analysis of cellular processes and regulatory factors that underlie vertebrate brain development and the development of behavior. Topics include: neurogenesis, neuronal migration, cell death, synapse formation, dendritic differentiation, as well as the influences of neurotransmitters, hormones, trophic factors and experience on developmental processes and behavior. In addition, conditions that induce abnormal brain development, and potentially result in the development of psychopathology, will be considered.



PSY 410 Depression: From Neuron to Clinic This course focuses on clinical depression, utilizing it as a model topic for scientific discourse. This topic is ideal for this purpose because it intersects a broad range of issues. The course focuses on a neurobiological approach to this personally and societally important subject. Topics range from the molecular to the clinical.


PSY 415 / MOL 415 Advanced Topics in Learning & Memory: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Seminar designed to expose students to current research on the cellular and molecular basis of learning and memory, providing an up-to-date analysis of what is, and is not known about the neurobiology of learning and memory. We begin with a review of the model systems used to study learning and memory, including an analysis of the translational validity of certain model systems. We then deal with different forms of plasticity (synaptic and structural) as they pertain to learning and memory during development and adulthood. Finally, we apply some of these findings to evaluate the current status of research on aging and Alzheimer's.



PSY 416 Brain Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience Research This course will provide an introduction for advanced students on the use of functional brain imaging in cognitive neuroscience research. The first third of the course will cover the foundations of brain imaging in neurophysiology, imaging physics, experimental design, and image analysis. The rest of the course will be an examination of innovations in experimental design and methods of analysis that have opened new areas of cognitive neuroscience to inquiry using functional brain imaging.



PSY511 Neuroscience seminar series: Current Issues in Neuroscience and Behavior Advanced seminar that reflects current research on brain and behavior.



PSY 516: The Neural Basis of Goal-Directed Behavior A fundamental property of human action is its orientation toward specific desired outcomes or goals. Understanding the computations & neural mechanisms underlying this goal-directedness is a central challenge for both psychology and neuroscience. We'll review major theories characterizing the role of goals in behavior, from cognitive, social & developmental psychology, animal behavior research and artificial intelligence. Having established this conceptual context, we'll review a wide range of neuroscientific data to sketch out the neural substrates of goal-directed behavior, considering the neural basis of goal evaluation, selection, representation & pursuit.



PSY 591A Ethical Issues in Scientific Research Examination of issues in the responsible conduct of scientific research, including the definition of scientific misconduct, mentoring, authorship, peer review, grant practices, use of humans and of animals as subjects, ownership of data, and conflict of interest. Class will consist primarily of the discussion of cases. Required of all first and second year graduate students in the Department of Psychology. Open to other graduate students.

Other Courses of Interest to Neuroscience Graduate Students

APC 503 Analytical Techniques/Differential Equations
APC 514 Biological Dynamics

CHE 514 Molecular and Biomolecular Imaging

CHM 545/MOL512 Magnetic Resonance in Chemical Biology and Neuroscience

COS 402 Artificial Intelligence
COS 429 Computer Vision
COS 487 Theory of Computation

EEB 502/3 Fundamental Concepts in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

NEU 593 Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MAE 541/APC541 Applied Dynamical Systems
MAE 546 Optimal Control and Estimation

MOL 504 Cellular Biochemistry
MOL 506 Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes
MOL 507 Developmental Biology
MOL 510 Introduction to Biological Dynamics
MOL 515 Methods and Logic in Quantitative Biology
MOL 561 Scientific Integrity

PHY 561/2 Biophysics

PSY 543 Research Seminar in Cognitive Psychology

Silicea
Silicea is used in epilepsy that presents mainly in children
and young adults. The silicea type of patient is usually
distressed, especially at night or early in the morning,
often has frightful dreams, and presents with spasm of
limbs. The agitation, which increases with sleep deprivation,
can lead to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The
patient often describes the seizure spreading from the
solar plexus (the abdomen) to the brain. Attacks could be
preceded by coldness of left side, shaking, and twisting of
left arm. Patients could suffer from vertigo and tinnitus,
pressing bursting headaches over the eyes and the occiput,
and profuse night sweats and fever [14].

See Also Geoffrey E. Hinton