Computation in Neural Systems:

Biological and Computational Vision

Thursdays 17.15 h to 19.00 h

(See plan here)

The course starts on Thursday, February 19, 2026 Room Y35-F-32
The lectures will be recorded and the recordings posted here.

Organizer: Prof. Daniel Kiper

This interdisciplinary course is open to all students of the University of Zurich and of the ETH Zurich. Typically, our students come from Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Psychology. Whether you intend to take the course for credit or to just sit in it, you do not have to ask permission, everybody is welcome. This is not a computer vision course, but one that explains the computations performed in biological visual systems.

Materials. The topics covered in each lecture are summarized in the slides used for each lecture, which are available on this website (in pdf format). The main material for the course is therefore your own notes, taken during the lectures. For some lectures, we have additional text, which is also distributed in class. People who would like to know more about vision may want to look at a book: Wandell, B. (1995) Foundations of Vision. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer. Here is a free access to the book.

Assistance. If you do not understand something, fix an appointment with the lecturer. Each lecture will be recorded, but some parts are hard to see/understand on the recording, so I encourage you to attend in person..

Exercises. The exercises will be explained as the semester progresses. Their nature ranges from online experiments to readings of papers.
The exercises are meant to help you evaluate your level of understanding. The correct answers to the exercises will be given in class. The exercises do not count for the final grade.

Language:

The course's official language is English, but you are free to ask questions in German. You can also speak German during the exam if you prefer.

Exam: The exam is a multiple choice exam, and will take place during the semester last, or second to last lecture.

Syllabus

The syllabus will be adjusted depending on progress

19.2 Introduction. Here are the slides.
Here is the recording.
Reminder: there is no class next week!

26.2 No class

5.3 Retina
Here are the recordings (two parts):
part 1
part 2
First (easy) exercise: test your blind spot.
Here are the mandatory readings (exercises):
Read this chapter (except parts 3,4,5, and 6.)
Read also this one
And this one only up to part 8 (not included).

12.3 End of retina (same slides).
Here is the recording.
Here is the alternative retina chapter (as a substitute for the previous readings)
And here is the (non mandatory) paper on linear systems.

19.3 LGN and start of V1
here is the recording

26.3 V1 continuation (same slides)
Here is the recording