Principal aim of the course is to analyse the basic neurophysiological mechanisms that mediate the fundamental cognitive, emotional and behavioral functions in animals and men.

The course will deal with the following subjects, presented in the temporal order as indicated below:

• Sensory systems: the visual system and visual perception.
• The motor system: anatomo-functional organization of motor system; movement control and planning; sensory-motor coordination; role of basal ganglia and cerebellum in motor control and cognitive behavior.
• The neurophysiological bases of attention. The effects of attention on sensory functions. The control of attention.
• The neurophysiological bases of mnestic processes. Long-term memory: episodic and semantic declarative (explicit) memory; non-declarative (implicit) memory. Short-term memory and working memory.
• Neurophysiology of emotions. Influences of emotions on sensory and cognitive functions. Control of emotions.
• Social cognition and social behavior.
• Decisional processes

No bridging courses are reported

In line with Dublin Descriptors, at the end of the course students will have to demonstrate the following learning achievements:

1. good knowledge and clear understanding of the basic neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the fundamental cognitive and behavioral functions;

2. the capacity of using knowledge and concepts to reason in an autonomous fashion on the various subjects presented during the course, being able to describe experimental studies and relative underlying working hypotheses, and to describe the experimental findings and their interpretation.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Integrative lessons and seminars

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Attendance

Attendance is not obligatory

Course books

Purves, Cabeza, Huettel, LaBar, Platt, Woldorff. “Principles of Cognitive neuroscience”. Synauer Associate. Inc., second edition 2013

Assessment

Written exam (brief essays)

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Subjects and contents of the course are the same as for attending students. As for attending students, teaching material will be made available by the lecturer, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform.

Attendance

Attendance is not obligatory

Course books

  Purves, Cabeza, Huettel, LaBar, Platt, Woldorff. “Principles of Cognitive neuroscience”. Synauer Associate. Inc., second edition 2013

Assessment

Written exam (brief essays)

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.