Enrollment year
2022/2023
Academic discipline
M-PSI/02 (PSYCHOBIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Period
1st semester (20/09/2023 - 12/01/2024)
Lesson hours
36 lesson hours
Activity type
WRITTEN AND ORAL TEST
Prerequisites
None. It is strongly suggested a review of basic concepts of neuropsychology and neurophysiology
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge about neuroimaging methods in cognitive neuroscience. For each technique, basic principles, data acquisition, experimental designs and data analysis will be illustrated. The course will focus on the use of these methodologies in basic research and their application in clinical neuropsychology. The course will also provide practical experience in voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping and functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data analysis.
Course contents
- Introduction to Neuroimaging
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI)
- Anatomo-clinical correlation method
- Stereotactic method
- Functional Neuroimaging: methodology, experimental paradigms and their applications
- Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI)
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- Application of functional neuroimaging methods to the study of cognitive functions: spatial attention and neglect.
Teaching methods
In accordance with the University Guidelines for teaching activities in the 2023/2024 academic year, the course will take place in presence. The students will be able to consult the slides or other teaching materials from the university platform KIRO.
Reccomended or required readings
- Lecture slides
- Integrazione delle funzioni sensitive e motorie: cortecce associative e capacità cognitive cerebrali. Chapter 19. In: Principi di Neuroscienze (terza edizione). E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessell. pp. 362-375 (Appendice: I metodi di visualizzazione funzionale consentono l'osservazione diretta dell'attività cerebrale connessa con le funzioni cognitive);
- Elementi di neuroscienze cognitive. Anna Berti, Gabriella Bottini, Marco Neppi-Mòdona. Carocci Editore, 2006;
- I metodi di bioimmagine: applicazioni in neuropsicologia (Capitolo 6). D. Perani e S. Cappa. In: Manuale di Neuropsicologia. G. Denes e L. Pizzamiglio (a cura di). Bologna: Zanichelli Editore, 1996. pp. 104-135
- Cognitive neurology and the contribution of neuroimaging. E. Paulesu, G. Bottini, and R. Frackowiak. In: Contemporary Behavioral Neurology. M. Trimble and J. Cummings, Eds. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996. pp. 49-89;
- The lesion method in cognitive neuroscience. A. Damasio. In: Handbook of Neuropsychology, (2 ed., Vol.1). Boller, Grafman e Rizzolatti (Eds). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 2000. pp. 77-102;
- Analysing Brain Images: Principles and Overview. Paragrafo IV: The operational components of functional imaging data analysis. K.J. Friston. In: Human Brain Function. R.S.J. Frackowiak, K.J. Friston, C.D. Frith, R.J. Dolan, J.C. Mazziotta. Academic Press, 1977. pp. 34-37
Additional research articles will be provided and discussed during the course.
Assessment methods
Combined written multiple-choice test and oral examination.
Further information
There is no differentiation of the program between attending and non-attending students.
Slides shown during the lectures will be available online on the KIRO platform.
As part of the University's activities for Innovative Teaching and to promote inclusion, the teacher guarantees up to two hours of office hours per week, to be agreed with the teacher herself.
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030
Università di Pavia - Offerta formativa