The course aims at presenting the main neuropsychological models and the ensuing neurobiological and functional bases. The lectures will allow students to understand the main diagnostic methods and the criteria of some of the main acquired and developmental cognitive disorders. For this purpose, neurobiological bases, clinical-behavioral diagnostic criteria, and a clinical case will be presented for each disorder addressed.

The course will address the following topics by favoring the parallelism between acquired neuropsychological disorders and developmental disorders:

Introduction to Neuropsychology (Lesson 1).

Introduction to the notions of association and dissociation in neuropsychology (Lesson 2-3).

Instrumental investigation techniques in Neuropsychology (Lesson 4)

Executive functions, attention and impulse control disorders (Lesson 5 - 6)

Memory: acquired memory disorders and developmental disorders (Lesson 7 - 8 - 9)

Spoken language and language disorders: DPL and Aphasia (Lesson 10 - 11).

Reading Models and Disorders of Written Language: Acquired and developmental Dyslexia and Dysgraphia (Lesson 12 - 13 -14)

Motor planning, apraxia and dyspraxia (Lesson 15)

Graceful aging and Dementia (Lesson 16-17)

+ Review lesson

During each lesson, examples of exam questions and / or clinical cases will be discussed.

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The student will have to show that he has

- Knowledge and understanding: learnt the neuro-functional organization of cognitive processes and their alterations in the life cycle; learnt the cognitive and neuropsychological models presented in the course

- Applying knowledge and understanding: acquired the ability to recognize the neuropsychological deficits addressed and the cognitive functioning profiles typically associated with each of them

- Making judgments: acquired the ability to use knowledge and concepts for the description of a clinical case in the neuropsychological field; ability to formulate a diagnostic hypothesis following the international and national guidelines and criteria presented

- Communication skills: acquired the specific language for the neuropsychological description of a patient and his cognitive functioning

- Learning skills: Upon completion of the course students will have acquired a good autonomy in the recognition of the cognitive profiles associated with the main neuropsychological disorders

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

Seminars held by professionals in the field

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

Not Mandatory

Course books

1) Vallar G., Papagno C. (III Edizione, che 2018). Manuale di neuropsicologia.Clinica ed elementi di riabilitazione. 3ª ed. Bologna: Il Mulino

(Cap 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18)

2) “Neuropsicologia dell’età evolutiva” a cura di S. Vicari e M.C. Caselli ed. Il Mulino

(Cap 5, cap 9, cap 10, cap 12, cap 13, cap 14, cap 15, cap 19)

The pages for each chapter will be indicated on the corresponding material in the Blended learning.

Assessment

Exam with multiple choice (15 questions). Students will be provided with two open questions about the neuropsychological models and deficits described during the course.

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

Lectures

Attendance

Not Mandatory

Course books

1) Vallar G., Papagno C. (III Edizione, che 2018). Manuale di neuropsicologia.Clinica ed elementi di riabilitazione. 3ª ed. Bologna: Il Mulino

(Cap 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18)

2) “Neuropsicologia dell’età evolutiva” a cura di S. Vicari e M.C. Caselli ed. Il Mulino

(Cap 5, cap 9, cap 10, cap 12, cap 13, cap 14, cap 15, cap 19)

The pages for each chapter will be indicated on the corresponding material in the Blended learning.

Assessment

15 multiple choice questions and two open questions relating to the description of one of the neuropsychological deficits addressed during the course.

The student must take at least 18 in both tests and the final mark will correspond to the average of the two evaluations.

Each multiple choice question will be worth two points. For the open-ended question we will use the following evaluation scheme:

· Less than 18: insufficient level of competence.

18-20: sufficient level of competence.

21-23: fully sufficient level of competence.

24-26: good level of competence.

27-30: excellent level of competence.

30 cum laude: excellent level of competence.

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.

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