32114 - Affective, Cognitive and Social Neurosciences

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will posses knowledge about i) principal neuroscientific approaches and techniques, ii) biological bases of cognitive and affective control; iii) biological substrates linked to decisions and social interactions

Course contents

The purpose of the course is to survey the neural basis and functional mechanisms of social behaviour, the affective and cognitive regulation of behaviour, and the alteration of these processes in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders, drawing on both theoretical and empirical contributions of current literature.
Topics will include social perception, imitation and empathy, theory of mind, cognitive control, emotion and motivation, neurophysiology of reward mechanisms and their role in decision-making processing, both in normality and psychopathology.
Special attention will be devoted to neuroanatomical circuits and mechanisms of neurochemical modulation, integrating different methodological approaches: behavioural, neurophysiological, psychopharmacological, computational and neuroimaging.

Specific contents:
Methods in Neuroscience
Perception of social information
The mirror neuron system
Empathy and Theory of Mind
Brain mechanisms of cognitive and affective processes
Neurophysiology of reward in animals and humans
Neural substrate of economic and moral decision-making
Neurobiology of anxiety and depression
Neuroscience perspectives on schizophrenia
Neuroscience of addiction

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific papers and other course materials for this course will be made available at the course website. These readings are mandatory to pass the final exam.

Suggested readings: i) Giacomo Rizzolatti & Corrado Sinigaglia (2006). "So quel che fai. Il cervello che agisce e i neuroni specchio". Editore Cortina Raffaello; ii) Antonio R. Damasio (1995). “L'errore di Cartesio. Emozione, ragione e cervello umano”. Editore Adelphi.

Teaching methods

Each class meeting will include introductory reviews by faculty, student seminars based on recent literature, and final discussions. Thus, an active role in discussion is expected. Students are expected to read the assigned readings, and to come to class ready to participate with questions and a scientifically critical attitude.

Assessment methods

Written exam with open-ended questions

Teaching tools

Slides (PowerPoint)

Office hours

See the website of Alessio Avenanti

See the website of Giuseppe Di Pellegrino