Computational Linguistics for Brain Encoding and Decoding

UCAS-AI, Summer 2024

This course offers an introductory exploration into the interdisciplinary fields of natural language processing (NLP) and the neurobiology of language (NBL). With an emphasis on utilizing NLP as a vehicle for understanding and deciphering the language functions of the brain, it serves as an entry and advanced point for learners. Throughout the course, students will familiarize themselves with fundamental techniques in brain encoding and decoding, alongside an introduction to the background of brain and machine language processing. The course culminates in a collaborative research project among students.

Course Staff

INSTRUCTOR

• Shaonan Wang SHE/HER (email: wangshaonan2013@ia.ac.cn)

Logistics

All classes are held in person at 教学楼304（智慧教室）on the Yuquan campus, from 18:10–19:50 every Thursday, starting February 29, 2024.

• Student hours: Thursdays, 20:00-21:00, with Shaonan Wang in 教学楼304

Prerequisites

Students are expected to have seen most of the following concepts before.

PYTHON PROGRAMMING

Basic syntax, Jupyter notebooks, package managers (e.g., pip)

MACHINE LEARNING

Features (discrete vs. continuous), optimization, train/dev/test, classifier/regressor (e.g., Linear regression)

NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING

Tokenization, embeddings/representations, language modeling

NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

As this is an interdisciplinary course at the entry-level, encompassing students from diverse backgrounds such as computer science, artificial intelligence, psychology, and linguistics, many may encounter unfamiliar topics. However, it’s perfectly acceptable if you find yourself unfamiliar with any of the mentioned subjects. Feel free to look up unfamiliar concepts or ask for assistance whenever necessary.