Notes

Data Analysis Methods in Neural Science

This note is just a collection of past useful notes to know to apply machine learning methods for the analysis of topics interesting in the neural sciences. Estimators # You need to know all Parametric Modeling . We want to estimate unknown random variables with some…

August 28, 2025 · Reading Time: 1 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Architecture of the Brain

First, the brain is organized into functionally specific areas, and second, neurons in different parts of the vertebrate nervous system, indeed in all nervous systems, are quite similar. Small comparison with Computers # A gross observation between computer's transistors and…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 20 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Firing-rate based Network models

The Potassium Exchange values # We use the measurement by Cole and Curthis 40mS/cm squared was their measure of Potassium ions leaving the membrane Δ Q = I d t = G A Δ E d t The potassium concentration is 0.155 moles per litre. Where G is the conductance per unit area, A the…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 11 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Human Vision

Vision is THE most important sense for humans. Most of the information we get is through vision 90% vision This is true for humans, but for mice for example it is different, they have probably a 64x64 pixel resolution equivalent. For humans, visual data is more important, it is…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 9 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Intrinsic Motivation and Playfulness

We have a classical exploration-exploitation tradeoff, see Reinforcement Learning, a introduction . Why would animals explore, even if there is no immediate reward based on it? Animals are able to adapt and explore nonetheless. It would be thus nice to understand and implement…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 7 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Memory in Human Brain

an Here we attempt to answer what is memory, how is it stored and retrieved. Human Memory # Definition of Memory # Memory is a process by which information is: Encoded Stored Retrieved The brain has different types of memories, and certain brain regions are specialized for this…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 16 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Synapses

Synapses are the connections that exist between one neuron and another, so we can think of them as the communication channel between neurons. Gap Junctions # Electrical based # These are also called Gap Junctions These are more direct connections between neurons, allowing…

August 26, 2025 · Reading Time: 6 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Neural Imaging

In general we want to understand how neurons encode the rate and temporal information to build specific features like place cells, grid cells, velocity, head direction, or how it can guide behaviour or coordination. Many neurons encode together some features, it is quite rare…

August 25, 2025 · Reading Time: 15 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

Neural mechanisms

The synaptic connections that define such circuits are typically made in a dense tangle of dendrites, axons terminals, and glial cell processes that together constitute what is called neuropil. Knee-Jerk Response # The knee-jerk reflex (also known as the patellar reflex ) is a…

August 25, 2025 · Reading Time: 15 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang

The Neuron

Introduction to the Course # What is a neural system? # A neural system is an intricately organized network of specialized cells—primarily neurons, along with a variety of supportive glial cells—that processes and transmits information via electrical and chemical signals. In…

August 25, 2025 · Reading Time: 12 minutes · By Xuanqiang Angelo Huang