PSY6317: Methods in Computational Intelligence
Value: 10 credits
Staff: Prof Kevin Gurney (PSY), Dr Eleni Vasilaki (COM), Dr Tony Dodd (ACSE)
Module Outline:
This module aims to provide you with key research skills and background information
required for some other modules on the course. In particular it covers three areas:
1) An introduction to some ideas in neuroscience required for the computational
neuroscience modules. While many of the ideas here will be introduced in these
modules at the appropriate time, you will benefit enormously from having an
overview of some key concepts and how they relate to each other. This module
component will be conducted via a class session over one whole afternoon, and
suggested reading. Assessment will be done via coursework comprising short
answers to questions on the taught material. This component will constitute 25%
of the overall mark
2) A short course in the high level scientific programming language, Matlab. Matlab is a
language that has become very popular in many areas of research in
computational intelligence. While many of you will have prior programming
experience in other languages (e.g. Java, C, etc), we will encourage you to learn
Matlab so that you can appreciate coding examples in other modules, do lab
classes therein, and conduct projects compatible with the work in our research
groups. This component of the module will be conducted over a series of selfdirected lab sessions supported by directed reading material. Assessment is via
the completion of short programming assignments and will constitute 50% of the
overall mark.
3) Training in the appreciation of the research seminar. Attending and learning from
research seminars is a key skill for you to learn. It enables you to rapidly learn a
background in new areas, as well as increase your technical knowledge in more
familiar ones. You will be required to attend six research seminars across the
three contributing Departments (timetables will be issued) and to write up a
précis of one seminar of your choice. You will be given instructions in how to do
this and the write-up will constitute the assessment (worth 25% of the overall
mark).
Assessment
Course material, including written exercises and programming examples