COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE
The aim of the course is the mastery by the student of advanced and updated knowledge in the domain of cognitive neuroscience, as well as of the autonomous critical and analytical skills in understanding the neural correlates of behaviour and of cognitive and affective functions, also in the light of developmental and evolutionary phenomena. This will be conveyed through the acquisition and discussion of contents converging from several methodologies (electrophysiology, lesion studies on animal models, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, neurostimulation, etc) allowing an overall vision of the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the field, as well as of its theoretical and applicative implications. A further aim is the acquisition of the ability to communicate this knowledge competently, as well as to autonomously formulate hypotheses and prospects for investigation.
The course aims at providing a wide and deep description of the neural correlates of mind and behaviour in several animal models and humans. The principles of organization of cognitive architecture and the phylogenetic and ontogenetic premises of its neural implementation will be presented. Much attention will be dedicated to classical and recent studies on the following functions: perception, attention, motor control, learning and memory, emotions and social representations.
Introduction to Cognitive neuroscience
Functional and organizational principles
Evolution
Development
Plasticity
Perception
Attention
Movement
Learning and memory
Emotions and social neurosciences
Purves, Cabeza, Huettel, LaBar, Platt, Woldorff – “Principles of cognitive neuroscience”. Oxford University Press
Materials provided during class for the realization of the practical experience (for furter information, please contact the professor)
The course contents are presented through lectures, taking advantage of Power Point slides. Part of the class time (around 16 hours) will be dedicated to a practical experience, consisting of the ideation and implementation of an empirical study (formulation of the hypothesis, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, writing of a short scientific article). The completion of the practical experience is a necessary condition to be able to take the exam (non-attending students are recommended to contact the teacher for further information).
The final evaluation will consist of an oral exam aimed at assessing the expected outcomes listed above. The evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths.