02207 - General Psychology

Learning outcomes

This course will focus on the cognitive processes (perception, attention, learning, memory and thinking), emotional and interpersonal processes (recognition and control of emotions, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, expectations and attitudes). Recognizing the basic components of the strategies of informative and persuasive communication is key to improve patient’s cooperation and adherence to medical care.

Course contents

Lecture 1. Introduction to psychology as a scientific discipline.  History of the different approaches to research in psychology. Brief overview of the organization of the human nervous system with particular attention to the the somatosensory stripe.  Phantom limb syndrome.

Lecture 2. Methods in neuroscience. Methods for investigating cognitive processes. Electroencephalography.

Lecture 3. An historical perspective on research approaches in neuroscience: from the study of brain lesions to functional magnetic resonance (fMRI). Difference between fMRI and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Lecture 4. Altered state of consciousness: sleep and vegetative state.

Lecture 5. Faces as important tools for communications. Why studying face perception: recognition of identity. Detection of signs for clinical diagnosis. Plastic surgery and the ethical issues of face transplant. The neural mechanisms for face perception.

Lecture 6. Understanding others. Emotions and their neurophysiological basis. Neurophysiological basis of empathy and emotions: mirror neurons and the theory of mind areas. Stress and burnout syndrome.

Lecture 7. Communication in medicine. Effective doctor-patient communication. Three separate stages in the interaction with the patient: opening; gathering information and going in depth; summary and closure.

Lecture 8. Effective doctor-patient interaction: preparing oneself to pay attention. Paying attention to interpersonal distance: proxemics. Body language and preparing the patient: touch. Perception of eye gaze. Body posture. First impressions. Perception of facial expressions of emotion and the mirror neurons.

Readings/Bibliography

A pdf of the powerpoint presentation will be available on "Insegnamenti Online" after each lecture. Pdfs of the powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be the material to be reviewed for the written exam.

 

The following textbook is recommended if you want to explore further the topics covered in class but it will not be part of the written exam.

Psicologia generale. La scienza della mente e del pensiero.

(a cura di T. Marzi A. Peru, R. Merlini (Traduttore), L. Tasso (Traduttore).

Ed McGraw Hill

 

Teaching methods

Lectures with slides. At the end of each lecture a pdf with the powerpoint presentation will be distributed to students. Pdfs with the powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be the material to be reviewed for the written exam at the end of the course.

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of a short written exam ~5 questions on the topics covered during the lectures. Students should demonstrate that they acquired knowledge on the main issues covered in class, and the answers should be clear and well-articulate.

Teaching tools

At the end of each lecture the pdf of the slide will be distributed through the online platform.

 

During the lectures, several videos will be shown with examples of the concepts covered in class

Office hours

See the website of Maria Ida Gobbini