NEUROSCIENZE COGNITIVE

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

PSI0291

Academic Year of enrolment:

2018

Year of supply:

2019/2020

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in PSYCHOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology

Language:

Italian

Location:

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

TOMMASI Luca

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

136

Prerequisites:

Basic-level neuroscience, including knowledge og neuron physiology, neuroanatomy, and basic neuropsychology.

Objectives

The aim of the course is the understanding of the theoretical and methodological complexity of understanding the neural bases of cognition and behaviour and of their phyogenetic and ontogenetic framework, in the light of convergent use of data from neurophysiology, neuropsychology and neuroimaging. The student will get acquainted with the experimental logic that allowed to understand the mechanisms of human mental function starting from evidence obtained in animals (lesion and electrophysiology studies) integrating them with evidence from classic neuropsychology and the most recent acquisistions from neuroimaging and neurostimulation, without loosing track the importance of adopting theoretical models that can drive the understanding of brain functional architecture.

Contents

The course aims at providing the grounding to master deep knowledge on some of the fundamental subjects pf behavioual and cognitive neuroscience, with specific reference to topics of a strong relevance for the psychologist (perception, attention, movement, memory, emotions).

Extended Syllabus

Introduction to cognitive neuroscience;
Phylogenesis of nervous systems;
Ontogenesis of the human nervous system;
Plasticity and the brain;
Perception and attention;
Movement and action;
Learning and memory;
Emotion and the social brain.

Recommended Bibliography

Tommasi (2020) "Neuroscienze cognitive" (Agenzia Libraria Europea, Roma). This book can be replaced with alternative textbooks in English.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Class lessons with recourse to projection of slides. Focus classes on review articles on topics of specific interest by students.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The examination consists of an oral test dealing with two aspects, one chosen by the student and one by the teacher. The evaluation concerns the level of detail and the mastery of language of acquired knowledge, the ability to generalize and systematize beyond particular, the ability to find links and connections among different aspects of the subject. The participation in focus classes on review articles entails the attribution of a supplementary evaluation. The evaluation can be carried out in English upon request.

Contacts/More Information

Possible integration with audiovisual materials on specific experiments and paradigms.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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