Interdisciplinary Training in Cognitive, Computational and Systems Neuroscience

生物学、心理学和生物医学工程领域在神经系统潜在行为的研究方面取得了令人兴奋的新进展。这些学科分别为大脑功能提供了新的见解，并为更好地理解神经系统疾病、健康和紊乱的发育以及交流提供了机会。然而，科学进步的迅速发展受到学科边界的限制。此外，牢牢扎根于生物学家、心理学家和工程师使用的一系列方法的神经科学家将最好地推进新的研究技术，如非侵入性功能成像和神经假肢。需要一种完全跨学科的培训模式。在华盛顿大学，我们已经开发了这样一个模型：认知、计算和系统神经科学（CCSN）途径培养了经过严格训练的独立研究者，他们将领导新一代的科学家，他们在真正的跨学科研究中研究大脑。CCSN为生物医学工程、心理学和神经科学博士课程的学生提供服务。CCSN的核心是一个为期两年的课程，强调跨学科，协作和基于项目的教学。在第一年，学生将学习认知心理学、生物神经计算和神经系统的核心概念和方法。在第二年，学生们参加了两门特别设计的课程，作为CCSN路径的顶点——高级CCSN和CCSN中的项目建设。高级CCSN由一系列前沿脑科学主题的跨学科案例研究组成。每个主题都是由一个从三个家庭项目中抽取的教师团队作为一个模块呈现的。模块包括以团队为基础的项目和同行评审，以及主要来源阅读和课堂讲座和讨论。CCSN的项目建设是一门完全由学生主导的课程。在与教师领导的合作下，每个学生设计一个独立的跨学科研究项目。教师领导帮助他们组建一个跨学科的教师咨询团队，他们在整个学期多次向他们展示自己的项目。教师建议辅以同行建议，包括书面同行评议，最终形成研究基金式的项目提案。围绕核心CCSN课程是丰富的半影活动。这些课程旨在提供智力培训，并培养一批具备在跨学科团队中开展研究所需的识别能力和社交技能的科学家。正式的课程包括实验神经科学的数学和统计，以及在高级CCSN之前的强化迷你课程。与杰出的访问科学家的身临其境的接触提供了高强度的前沿研究。CCSN与圣路易斯科学中心合作，培训学生与公众沟通，并帮助他们建立项目和演讲，向儿童和成人传授大脑和思想。在最初阶段，CCSN已经培养了一批年轻的脑科学家，他们很快就会有新的发现。来自学生、教师和外部咨询团队的评估表明，这条道路正处于持续增长的轨道上。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary The fields of biology, psychology, and biomedical engineering have generated exciting new advances in the study of neural systems underlying behavior. Individually, these disciplines have individually provided novel insights into brain function and provide opportunities for improved understanding of disorders of the nervous system, healthy and disordered development, and communication. However, the rapid advancement of scientific progress has been limited by the boundaries surrounding the disciplines. Moreover, neuroscientists that are firmly grounded in an array of approaches used by biologists, psychologists, and engineers will best advance new research technologies such as non-invasive functional imaging and neural prosthetics. A training model that is thoroughly interdisciplinary is needed. At Washington University, we have developed such a model: The Cognitive, Computational, and Systems Neuroscience (CCSN) Pathway produces rigorously trained independent investigators that will lead a new generation of scientists who study the brain in truly integrated interdisciplinary investigations. CCSN serves students from the PhD programs in Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, and Neuroscience. The core of CCSN is a two-year curriculum that emphasizes interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and project-based instruction. In the first year, students take courses that bring them up to speed on the core concepts and methods in Cognitive Psychology, Biological Neural Computation, and Neural Systems. In the second year, students participate in two unique courses that have been specially designed as the capstone to the CCSN pathway Advanced CCSN and Project Building in CCSN. Advanced CCSN consists of a series of interdisciplinary case studies in cutting-edge brain science topics. Each topic is presented as a module by a faculty team drawn from the three home programs. Modules include team-based projects and peer review as well as primary source readings and classroom lectures and discussions. Project Building in CCSN is a fully student-driven course. In collaboration with the faculty leader, each student designs an independent interdisciplinary research project. The faculty leader helps them to assemble an interdisciplinary faculty advising team, to whom they present their project multiple times throughout the semester. Faculty advising is complemented by peer advising including written peer review, culminating in a research grant-style project proposal. Surrounding the core CCSN curriculum is a rich penumbra of activities. These are designed to provide intellectual training and to build a cohort of scientists with the identification and social skills necessary to conduct research in interdisciplinary teams. Formal coursework is provided in Mathematics and Statistics of Experimental Neuroscience, and by an intensive mini- course preceding Advanced CCSN. Immersive Encounters with distinguished visiting scientists provide high-intensity exposure to cutting-edge research. In collaboration with the Saint Louis Science Center, CCSN trains students to communicate with the public and helps them build programs and presentations to teach children and adults about the brain and mind. In its initial phases, CCSN has produced cohorts of young brain scientists on the fast track to new discoveries. Evaluations from students, faculty, and an outside advisory team indicate the pathway is on track for continued growth.