Understanding Brain Disorders for Engineers

9 units (3-0-6) | third term

This course gives engineers a working understanding of the brain disorders that define the clinical landscape for neurotechnologies. Each week focuses on one or two disorders, connecting the underlying biology and pathophysiology to the engineering problems and opportunities they present. By the end of the course, students will be able to describe the circuit-level and molecular mechanisms underlying major brain disorders, identify clinical needs where new engineering approaches could have a major impact, and read and interpret clinical and preclinical literature with sufficient fluency to collaborate with neuroscientists and clinicians. The course concludes with student-designed proposals aimed at unmet needs in brain disorders.