71992 - Clinical Psychophysiology II .

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to give students a basic knowledge on neurobiological and neurophysiological mechanisms of mental disorders and their treatments.

Course contents

The main topics of this course are:

Basic anatomy and physiology of the central nervous systems. Basic physiology of chemical neurotransmission and neuromodulation, synaptic plasticity. The action potential. Neurobiological mechanisms of learning and memory. Synaptic transmission, receptors and intracellular signal transduction pathways as pharmacological targets. Biochemical properties of receptors: agonists and antagonists, allosteric interactions and modulations. Basic epigenetic mechanisms. Neurobiology of emotions, of imagination and of meditation. Neurobiology of consciousness and of the placebo effect. Neurobiological mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness and sleep disorders. Neurobiological mechanisms of dementias and their general treatments.

Lectures will be in Italian language and will take place during the 1st semester (from October to December) at the Cesena Campus of the School of Psychology and Education (address: Piazza Aldo Moro, 90 - Cesena).

Readings/Bibliography

Stahl S.M., Neuro Psicofarmacologia essenziale: basi neuroscientifiche e applicazioni pratiche, seconda edizione italiana (4th original edition), Milano: Edi-Ermes, 2016 (2013 for the original edition). Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 11 and 13.

Power point presentations used during live classes will be available to students. The contents of these presentations will sufficiently integrate the suggested book to sustain the examination.

Teaching methods

Class lectures oriented to the program of the course.

Attending classes in not mandatory, but is highly suggested to better understand all the topics.

Assessment methods

In normal conditions, the final evaluation will consist in a written exam with two open ended questions, aimed to assess the student's knowledge regarding the topics included in the program of the course. Maximum score of the examination (30/30) will be gained answering clearly and concisely to the questions given. When answers are complete and simple at the same time, the score of 30 Cum Laude will be suggested for the final evaluation. Incomplete answers, as well as imprecise answers, will be evaluated with a proportionally lower score in respect to the maximum. The score given is totally under the judgment of the lecturer.

During the pandemic emergency situation due to Covid-19, in order to follow the laws temporarily active to contain the spreading of the virus, the examination will be carried out by web and will be in oral form. The characteristics of the exam and the evaluation rules are exactly the same as those of the written form.

This test will always be concomitant with the one of Clinical Psychophysiology I, with no exceptions. The final score is one and will be obtained averaging scores from the four questions included in the whole examination session: 2 questions from Clinical Psychophysiology I part of the course, 2 questions from the present specific part. The examination will lasts 80 min (only when in the written form).

During the examination any auxiliary material is forbidden (with the exclusion of specific and subjective cases), is also forbidden using notes and any kind of books.

To sustain the examination is mandatory for the candidate to subscribe online, the subscription is in common with Clinical Psychophysiology I.

The lecturer is completely available to explain and to motivate the scores given, relatively to the proper part of the examination.

Teaching tools

Slide projector, PC.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Luppi