2022/2023

2022/2023

DM270

M-PSI/02 (PSYCHOBIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY)

DEPARTMENT OF BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

PSYCHOLOGY

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

2nd semester (27/02/2023 - 09/06/2023)

9

54 lesson hours

Italian

WRITTEN AND ORAL TEST

BOTTINI GABRIELLA (titolare) - 9 ECTS

No prerequisite related to legal and forensic knowledge.
Instead, a review of the knowledge related to the neurobiological correlates of behavior is strongly recommended. Knowledge of the cognitive and emotional processes that characterize the healthy individual is necessary. Knowledge and understanding of neural architecture and of the main behavioral disorders and syndromes related to the selective damage of certain brain regions and circuits is also required.
Previous knowledge refers to the “Physiological Psychology” and “Cognitive Rehabilitation” courses in the Bachelor program.

The course is part of the program of cognitive neuroscience and will provide knowledge of the physiology and pathology of the human cognitive-behavioral processes, both in the clinical and the forensic field. Various topics of interest for neuropsychology will be treated, with both theoretical and research implications as well as therapeutic applications. Students will acquire theoretical knowledge related to the legislative and ethical fields mainly focusing on the interaction with neuroscience. The students will be trained to critically consider problematic aspects of this interaction concerning the different semantic codes and the difficult process to produce interdisciplinary documents such as expert reports. The aim is to specify the role of neuropsychology in the civil and penal legal field. The students will also be provided notions concerning diagnostic and rehabilitative techniques in particular settings (for example remotely).

Elements of Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychology

The relationship with the patient

Assessment in clinical and forensic neuropsychology

The simulation behaviour

Emotional processes and their alterations caused by brain injury

Drug addictions: medical and legal aspects

Ability to understand and take action

Cognitive skills involved in driving behaviour

Ethics of neuroscience

Good Clinical Practices

The course will be mostly taught by professor Bottini, with some lectures held by professors experts in their respective fields. For all topics will be provided examples of the contribution of functional neuroimaging techniques

The course will consist of face-to-face lectures, during which professionals with expertise in particular clinical and research neuropsychological areas, such as lawyers, ethicists, neuropsychologists and neuroscientists, will be hosted.
The lectures will be face-to-face, and the use of lecture material is guaranteed with the possibility of downloading the lecture and consulting the slides or other didactic material from the KIRO university platform. The option of mixed teaching, i.e. if the number of enrolled students exceeds the classroom capacity, in accordance with the health regulations in force, two groups will be made up, one in presence and one at a distance with weekly rotation. Notice will be given at the beginning of the course regarding this delivery method. There will be no differentiation in the programme between attending and non-attending students.

Lecture notes

Stracciari, A., Berti, A., Bottini, G., (2016) "Manuale di valutazione neuropsicologica dell'adulto". Ed. Il Mulino
ISBN: 978-8815259011

The exam will be held as an oral examination with a grade between 0-30.
The examination will focus on any of the subjects explained during the lectures and in the course manuals.
The grade will be decided based on the completeness of the students’ answers, on their ability to argue and critically apply the knowledge learned during the course to real and/or realistic cases. The assessment will also take into account the student's exposition and the general degree of clarity in the answer.

When possible, the course will be held face-to-face. Alternatively, it will be carried out through the Zoom.Us platform, except for the students' end-of-course presentations that will take place in person.