2025 Spring - Neural Control of Real-World Human Movement

Instructor: Jonathan Samir Matthis¶

Course Dates: 06 Jan 2025 - 15 April 2025 Course Time: Mon/Weds 2:50-4:30 Course Location: (on canvas)

Course Materials and Resources¶

• Discord Server: (Invite on Canvas)
• Canvas page - https://northeastern.instructure.com/courses/201323
• Youtube playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWxH2Ov17q5HDfMBJxD_cE1lowM1cr_BV
• Course website: [TBA]

Schedule Overview¶

Course Description¶

Students will explore the neural basis of natural human behavior in real-world contexts (e.g., [[sports]], [[dance]], or [[everyday-activities]]) by investigating [[biomechanics]] and [[neuroscience]] of [[human-movement]]. The course will cover [[philosophical]], [[technological]], and [[scientific]] aspects related to the study of [[natural-behavior]] while emphasizing hands-on, project-based learning. Students will use [[free-open-source-software]], and [[artificial-intelligence]],[[machine-learning]] and [[computer-vision]] driven tools and methods to record human movement in unconstrained environments.

The course promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and introduces modern techniques for decentralized [[project-management]], [[AI-assisted-research-techniques]], and [[Python]]-based programming (No prior programming experience is required). Students will receive training in the use of AI technology for project management and research conduct, including [[literature-review]], [[data-analysis]], [[data-visualization]], and [[presentation-of-results]]. Through experiential learning, students will develop valuable skills in planning and executing technology-driven research projects while examining the impact of structural inequities on scientific inquiry.

Course Objectives¶

• Gain exposure to key concepts related to neural control of human movement.
• Apply interdisciplinary approaches when collaborating on complex problems.
• Develop a basic understanding of machine-learning tools for recording human movements.
• Contribute effectively within a team setting towards achieving common goals.
• Acquire valuable skills in data analysis or background research.

Learning Outcomes¶

Design and conduct a research project¶

• Develop a research plan
• Conduct a literature review
• Compile, analyze, and interpret empirical results
• Present research to a group

Assignments¶

Poster Assignment¶

At the end of the semester, you will present (individually or with a group, depending on your preference) a poster at a Symposium event designed to mimic a poster presentation session at a scientific conference. This Symposium will be attended by all 10+ sections of Biol2299 - It’s super fun! Your poster assignment is the Big Assignment for this course, but don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine :)

Other Assignments¶

There will also be a number of relatively casual assignments throughout the semester that will be explained as they come up.

These assignments will be all be mechanical/checkboxy in nature, i.e. “Have a chat with the bot in #XYZ channel for at least n messages” or “Have at least X citations logged in your Zotero bibliography” etc.