CAMP 2026: Pre-Course Reading Guide

Guidelines for the Reading Material

The following readings are recommended for participants who would like a basic introduction to the topics covered in CAMP 2026. You need not read everything; consult them only for topics that are unfamiliar or if you would like a refresher.

Google drive Link for Shared Material

Preparatory Material for CAMP 2026

Functions, Limits, Vector Algebra, and Basic Complex Analysis

• We expect a very basic understanding of these topics. If you need to brush up, please go through Viktor Jirsa’s Mathbootcamp (also provided on the shared drive).
• Complex analysis: YouTube lectures by Prof. Samudra Roy (IIT Kharagpur).

Calculus

• Basic calculus intuition: 3Blue1Brown – Essence of Calculus.
• Easy and intuitive introduction to calculus by Khan Academy:
  • Calculus 1
  • Calculus 2
• For a basic introduction to calculus: Viktor Jirsa’s Mathbootcamp

Differential Equations

• MIT OpenCourseWare: Differential Equations.
• Advanced Engineering Mathematics (H. K. Dass)
  • Chapter 3: Differential Equations
  • Chapter 15: Numerical Techniques
• Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences — Mary L. Boas.

Nonlinear Dynamics

• Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos — Steven H. Strogatz.
• Dynamics: The Geometry of Behavior — Ralph Abraham & Christopher D. Shaw.
• Lectures by Steven Strogatz.
• Concise lectures and overview by NLD lectures by Faculty of Khan.
• Notes by Dimitri Kartofelev Link (uploaded on Shared Drive Link).
• Chaos and Integrability in Nonlinear Dynamics: An Introduction — Michael Tabor.

Computational Neuroscience

• MIT 9.40: Introduction to Neural Computation Playlist link.
• Coursera course on computational neuroscience by Rajesh Rao and Adrienne Fairhall: https://www.coursera.org/course/compneuro
• Basic understanding of the Hodgkin–Huxley neuron model Link.
• Books:
  • Theoretical Neuroscience — Dayan & Abbott
  • Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience — Eugene M. Izhikevich
  • Methods in Neuronal Modeling (2nd Edition) — Koch & Segev
• Neuronal Dynamics Online: https://neuronaldynamics.epfl.ch/online/index.html
• Basic neuroscience:
  • Neuroscience — Dale Purves
  • Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology — Johnston & Wu

Probability and Statistics

• The Cartoon Guide to Statistics — Larry Gonick & Woollcott Smith.
• Khan Academy: Statistics and Probability.
• An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications — William Feller.
• A First Course in Probability — Sheldon Ross.

Basic Python Scripting

• Basic programming knowledge is required.
• Recommended resource: https://lectures.scientific-python.org/

Books for Scripting in NEURON and XPPAUT (Optional)

• The NEURON Book.
• A Guide to XPPAUT for Students and Researchers.
• Both are available on the shared drive.

Papers Suggested by Speakers

Vatsala Thirumalai

1. Predictive neural computations in the cerebellum contribute to motor planning and faster behavioral responses in larval zebrafish.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi6470

2. Contributions of the cerebellum for predictive and instructional control of movement.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2019.01.011