EXCITABILITY AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. Membrane biophysics and cellular excitability. Synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and neuromuscular plaque. Anatomical-functional organization of the Nervous System. Receptors and mechanisms of receptor transduction.
SENSORY SYSTEM: PROPRIOCEPTION, TOUCH, PAIN, thermal perception, ACOUSTIC AND VISUAL SYSTEM. Organization of the central pathways of somatic sensitivity. Physiological organization of the somatic cortex. Overview of the visual pathways and central processes of vision. The perception of sounds. Organization and physiological role of the external and middle ear. Physiology of the cochlea and notes on cochlear implants. The auditory nerve and the central auditory pathways. Nervous mechanisms involved in the localization of sounds. Physiological organization of the auditory cortex and outline of its projection towards the multimodal associative areas.
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS. Sleep. Electroencephalogram (EEG). Neurophysiological bases of consciousness and attention. Neuroimaging studies. Learning and memory. Language in the human species; language areas.
MOTOR CONTROL. Musculo-skeletal system and functions of mimic, masticatory muscles and of the suprahyoid and subioidal muscles. Physiology of the spinal cord. Stretch reflection and polysynaptic reflexes. Muscle tone, posture and supra-segmental control mechanisms. The vestibular system. Overview of eye movements. Outline on walking. Organization of voluntary movement and functions of motor and premotor areas. Phonation
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. Mechanics and nervous control of respiration.