LEARNING OUTCOMES

Il corso si prefigge l'obiettivo di fornire un'analisi critica dei metodi per l'analisi del segnale neuronale a partire dalla caratterizzazione del singolo spike, all'attività di più cellule fino all'analisi del segnale elettroencefalografico. Il corso fornirà le basi per poter manipolare, analizzare e interpretare criticamente i dati elettrofisiologici più comuni

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim 1. Understanding the neurophysiological bases and generation mechanism of brain signals. Learning outcomes for Aim 1. The students will be able to describe how different types of neural signals are generated, at the different spatio-temporal scales (micro-meso-macro/large). They will be able to distinguish between different types of brain signals, also describing the recording methodologies typically used to acquire them.

Aim 2. Extracting information from brain signals. Learning outcomes for Aim 2. The students will be able to identify optimal pre-processing steps, define feature extraction strategies based on real-case examples. They will be able to appropriately apply algorithms and methods, learn their implementation, optimization and pitfalls.

Aim 3. Problem solving in real case examples of neural signal analysis. Learning outcomes for Aim 3. During the working groups, the students will acquire the capability to solve specific problems of data analysis by applying the techniques acquired during the course. The working groups will be organized such that different students will assume different roles as in real lab teams.

PREREQUISITES

Matlab programming, basic of neurophysiology, physics, linear algebra, 

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture and flipped classes, problem-based learning, group work, blended learning

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Micro-scale 

1.  Introduction to neural signal analysis and applications (point process definition)

2. Spike detection: definition, performance evaluation

3. Spike sorting

4. Spike Analysis (basic statistical properties and more advanced ones)

5. Burst detection and Analysis

6. Neural Avalanches

7. Cross-correlation

8. Connectivity

Meso-scale

1. Generating mechanisms for field potentials - from single neurons to neural ensembles

2. Spectral feature analyses, separating oscillations from 1/f-like activity

3. Volume conduction, signal leakage, ghost interactions

4. Phase synchronization, amplitude correlation: how to separate phase from amplitude modulation, their interpretation - the communication through coherence framework

5. Cross frequency coupling 

Large-scale

1. From meso-to-macro scale recording: acquisition set up, physical basis and interpretations of electrical and magnetic field potentials

2. The Electrical source imaging (ESI): forward and inverse solution for EEG

3. Large-scale brain networks, their construction and characterization in the context of human brain mapping and connectomics

4. Cortical travelling waves and neural avalanches 

5. The critical brain hypothesis

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Analyzing neural time series - Cohen