70009 - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students 1) possess knowledge about methods and theoretic models of neuropsychological rehabilitation; 2) are able to understand how to use available neuro-rehabilitation techniques.

Course contents

The course will take place during the first semester (September-December, 2023), at the Department of Psychology - Cesena Campus (Aula Europa 1, Viale Europa 115).

Course contents:

• Neural plasticity after cerebral lesions;
• Research methods in neuropsychological rehabilitation;
• Non-invasive brain stimulation and neuropsychological rehabilitation;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of perceptual deficits;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of attentional deficits;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of movement-related deficits;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of language deficits;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of memory deficits;
• Neuropsychological rehabilitation of deficits following frontal lesions.

The course articulates in two modules:

Caterina Bertini’s module (80 hours) will focus on neural plasticity after cerebral lesions, the research methods and on-invasive brain stimulation techniques in neuropsychological rehabilitation, and on the neuropsychological rehabilitation of perceptual, attentional, movement, language and working memory deficits. Elisa Ciaramelli’s module (10 hours) will focus on the neuropsychological rehabilitation of memory and executive deficits following frontal lobe lesions.

Readings/Bibliography

Obligatory course readings:

- E. Làdavas - Riabilitazione Neuropsicologica- Ed. Il Mulino.

- the slides and selected scientific papers presented during each class. Please note these are meant as integrative, not alternative, of the course readings. The slides will be available after the classes on https://virtuale.unibo.it/ 

Teaching methods

Lectures. Throughout the lectures, clinical cases and videos will be presented.

Assessment methods

The oral exam tests the knowledge of the neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation methods, and of their theoretical background.

During the oral exam, each professor will assess the student's knowledge of their module, separately, using a score ranging from 18-30/30. The final score is the mean of the scores attained at the two modules, weighted based on the amount of credits of each module (Bertini: 8/9; Ciaramelli 1/9). In order to pass the exam, students are required to obtain the minimum score (18) on each module.

The top score (30) will be given to students providing precise and complete answers to all theoretical questions, and proving their ability to discuss appropriate rehabilitative approaches to neuropsychological deficits. On the basis of the correctness and completeness of the answers, scores will range from 30 to 18.

During the exam students are not allowed to consult any materials, such as textbooks, notes, or electronic devices.

The student is required to complete the online registration (Almaesami) within the terms in order to be admitted to the exam. In the case of technical problems the student is required to promptly contact the Segreteria Studenti and email prof. Bertini (within the terms) who will consider the request and decide about the admission.

Teaching tools

Slides (PowerPoint), papers, discussions on single cases, videos.

Office hours

See the website of Caterina Bertini

See the website of Elisa Ciaramelli