Mathematical Sciences for Artificial Intelligence

Conventional and unconventional neurotransmitters. Basic elements of a neural circuit. Neural circuits. Monosynaptic reflex arc: the patellar reflex. Integration of synaptic signals. Plasticity of the central nervous system. Short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity. Activity-dependent transcription: CREB, Fos. Hippocampal LTP and LTD. Cerebellar LTD. Anatomical organization of the nervous system. The central nervous system: brain and spinal cord. Protection systems of the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system. The origins of neuroscience and modern neuroscience. The structure-function relationship in the central nervous system: brain and behavior. Holistic and reductionistic theories. Memory systems. Patient HM. Declarative and non-declarative memory. Short-term and long-term memory. Stages of memory. Habituation. Sensitization. Conditioning. Neural correlates of declarative and non-declarative memory. Molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. LTP and memory. Motor control. Hierarchical organization of the motor system. Motor unit. Motor pool. Reflexes. Rhythmic movements. Overview of the role of brainstem, motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum. Movement disorders. Overview of nervous system pathologies. Functional activity networks.

No preparatory exams are required

TEXTBOOKS For in-depth study and review of the topics covered in the lectures, the following textbook is recommended: - Neuroscience (5th American Edition), edited by Purves, Augustine, Fitzpatrick, Hall, LaMantia, Mooney, Platt, and White. Alternatively, the following textbooks are recommended: - Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, by Bear, Connors, and Paradiso. - Principles of Neural Science (6th American Edition), edited by Kandel, Koester, Mack, and Siegelbaum (advanced). Additional teaching materials, including lecture notes, will be available on the course webpage on Sapienza's e-learning site.

The course includes a series of lectures, through which students will learn the fundamentals of neuroscience. To this end, the first part of the course will focus on the study of the animal cell in general (structure and function of cell organelles, nucleic acids, cell membranes; protein synthesis; chemical and physical characteristics of intra- and extra-cellular environment), and then deal with the nerve cell, its biophysical characteristics, electrical and functional properties. The second part of the course will introduce the student to the study of complex neuronal circuits, involved in specific brain functions. It may be possible to take a test (prova in itinere) between the first and the second module, in agreement with the students. The total duration of the module is 24 hours, with two lessons per week (2 hours/lesson).

Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

The exam has the objective of verifying the level of knowledge and in-depth analysis of the topics of the teaching program and the reasoning ability developed by the student. The exam is written and consists of a series of multiple-choice questions with four answers, of which only one is correct. The evaluation is expressed out of thirty (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 with honors). The student can decide to take an ongoing test, halfway through the course, and complete the other half at the end of the course; or to take the full exam. If the student decides to take the exam by taking a first test in progress and then the second test at the end of the course, the final mark will be the average of the marks obtained in the two tests. If the final grade obtained with the written test is 27 or higher, the student can request an oral question to increase the grade (optional).

The course includes lectures, in-class discussion of articles from in-class exercises