Topics in Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering II(The human brain as intelligent machines)

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The human brain is considered as one of the most intelligent "machines." In this lecture, we explore how the human brain is receiving, processing, and producing signals that are used to sense, perceive, feel, and make actions. In particular, we will focus on the visual information processing systems in the human brain (the visual cortex) and learn how the visual cortex works from the basic viewpoints. We would also focus on methodological aspects of analysis of the human brain function, particularly on the topics of non-invasive signal acquisition of human brain activity using electroenchephalography (EEG), magnetoenchephalography (MEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), together with computational analysis of these signals and computational modeling of neural signal processing. We might refer and ask students to read and introduce (in the form of presentation) the recent literature to achieve the goal.

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None, but the following textbook might help students to understand the topics:
[1] Jeremy M. Wolfe, Keith R. Kluender, Dennis M. Levi, Linda M. Bartoshuk, Rachel S. Herz, Roberta L. Klatzky and Daniel M. Merfeld, "Sensation & Perception (5th edition)," Sinauer Associates (2017)
[2] Peter Dayan and Laurence F. Abbott, "Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and Mathematical Modeling of Neural Systems," The MIT Press (2005)
[3] Scott A. Huettel, Allen W. Song, Gregory McCarthy, "Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging," Sinauer Associates (2008)

The following contents may vary depending on progress of students:

[1] Introduction
[2] Basics of our visual perception
[3] Evaluation of our subjective sensation/perception (1): metrics
[4] Evaluation of our subjective sensation/perception (2): psychophysical procedures
[5] Exercise of psychophysical experiment (1): survey of visual illusions
[6] Exercise of psychophysical experiment (2): introduction of Psychtoolbox and/or PsychoPy
[7] Exercise of psychophysical experiment (3): performing test experiments
[8] Student presentation of psychophysical experiment
[9] Basics of the human brain
[10] Basics of the visual cortex
[11] Basics of neural signal acquisition: invasive method
[12] Basics of neural signal acquisition: non-invasive method
[13] Basics of neural information encoding and decoding
[14] Overview of recent topics about visual information representation in the neural systems
[15] Student presentation about recent topics in visual information representation in the neural systems

*The contents and order will change according to students understandings.

None, but maybe preferable to get used to computer programming using matlab and/or python

(a) Evaluation: based on the overall score of exam(s), report(s), and/or presentation(s).
(b) Criteria: above 60% of a total score
(c) Expected level to achieve: Correctly perform calculations related to the topics and correctly explain related knowledge.

14:40 - 16:10, every Thursday. An e-mail contact prior to your visit is preferable.

Active contribution for the course will enhance your understanding. Explore the attractiveness of this field by yourself, too.

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