Professor in charge: Lauri Parkkonen
Extent: 65 credits
Abbreviation: NEURO
Code: SCI3061
Objectives
This major gives the students a strong background for understanding structure and function of the human brain, human cognition, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge of brain research methods and other neurotechnologies. After completing their studies, the students have an excellent background for a career in science and for applying their expertise in more applied fields such as medical technology, health and wellbeing, and game industry.
Content and structure
This major provides the students with up-to-date information on brain structure and function at different levels of analysis. Curriculum reflects the research interests of the faculty, who study sensory systems, cognitive functions, and develop brain research technologies. In modern neuroscience, command of advanced statistical and signal-analysis methods is mandatory; therefore, specific courses are included to cover this supporting field. The imaging courses of this major provide the students with an overview and hands-on practice of modern brain research methods.
Besides the regular lecture and course work, there is a compulsory special assignment, which exposes the student to a real research question and integrates him/her to a research team to learn the practices of the field and to develop his/her skills in reporting research.
Code | Course | Credits | Period/Year |
Compulsory common courses of the programme (15 credits): | |||
| MS-C1620 | Statistical Inference1) | 5 | III-IV/1 |
Life Science Technologies Project Course | 10 | III-V/1 | |
Compulsory courses of the major (50 credits) | |||
1 Neuroscience and imaging (35 credits) | |||
Structure and Operation of the Human Brain | 5 | I-II/1 | |
Principles of Biomedical Imaging | 5 | I-II/1 | |
Cognitive Neuroscience | 5 | III/1 | |
Advanced Course on Human Neuroscience | 5 | IV-V/1 | |
Functional Brain Imaging | 5 | I-II/2 | |
Special Assignment in Human Neuroscience | 10 | I-V, Summer/1 or 2 | |
2 Analysis and modelling (5–10 credits) Select from the courses below. | |||
Signal Processing in Biomedical Engineering | 5 | I-II/1 | |
Bayesian Data Analysis | 5 | I-II/2 | |
| CS-E4710 | Machine Learning, Supervised methods | 5 | I-II/1 or 2 |
Complex Networks | 5 | I-II/1 or 2 | |
3 Supporting courses (5–10 credits). Select primarily from the ones below. Other relevant courses from other Life Science Technologies majors possible with an agreement of the responsible professor of the major. | |||
NEU-104 * | Integrative neurobiology (course at University of Helsinki) * | 5 | II-III/1 |
Cellular Electrophysiology | 5 | I-II (even years) | |
Information Processing in Neural Circuits | 5 | III-V (odd years) | |
Medical Image Analysis | 5 | I-II (odd years) | |
Medical Imaging | 5 | III-IV (even years) | |
Medical Device Innovation | 5 | III-IV (even years) | |
| NBE-E4250 | Mapping, Decoding and Modeling the Human Brain | 5 | III (odd years) |
| NBE-E4260 | Genesis and Analysis of Brain Signals | 5 | III-IV |
1) If the student has already taken MS-C1620 in the Bachelor degree or has the corresponding knowledge and skills, he/she should replace MS-C1620 either with a more advanced statistics course such as MS-E2112 or an extra course from Analysis and Modelling category.
*Please note that this course is part of the curriculum and it is not handled as a credit transfer. If you have completed the course, send the transcript of records to your study coordinator and the course will be registered with the grade.
Recommendations for elective studies
Students are encouraged to take courses from other Majors of the Life Sciences Technologies programme, depending on own interests. Those who are especially interested in neurotechnologies, can extend their knowledge profile by taking courses from Biomedical Engineering major and Biosensing and Bioelectronics major. Internship is also recommended in elective studies.