Prerequisites
The nervous system is characterized by the parallel interaction of many subsystems, at scales ranging from the molecule to the entire brain, where the state of each subsystem evolves continuously. The description of these subsystems and their interactions is essential to gain a better understanding of the functioning of the nervous system, interpret what is measured at these different scales (multi-electrode acquisitions, optical imaging, EEG, MEG, etc.) and understand how cognitive functions emerge from the behavior of the cerebral cortex. This requires the development of appropriate theoretical models and analytical tools. This course, concrete and operational, teaches the basics for analyzing the brain dynamics at different scales: from neuron and synapses, to neuronal networks, to neural masses, and to the emergence of cognitive processes. Different aspects are considered simultaneously: biological, physical, mathematical, computational and cognitive. Acquisition methods (multi-electrodes, optical imaging, EEG, MEG, etc.) are presented together with experimental protocols linking individual behavior to in vivo recordings during cognitive tasks.
