06551 - Neurophysiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students are expected to know the physiological bases: 1) of the activity of the cerebral cortex; 2) the recording of the electroencephalogram; 3) control of movement. In particular, they are expected to know: - the somesthetic cortical areas and their relationship with the associative areas; - the main rhythms of the electroencephalogram and their correlation with the different behavioral states; - cortical control of movement and its regulation by the cerebellum and basal nuclei.

Course contents

Anatomical and functional organization of the cerebral cortex, the basal nuclei, and the cerebellum.

The control of movement by the cerebral cortex and its regulation by the cerebellum and the basal nuclei.

Features and circadian organization of the behavioral states.

Mechanisms and interpretation of the main rhythms of the electroencephalogram.

Readings/Bibliography

R.M. Berne, M.N. Levy, FISIOLOGIA (a cura di, B.R. Koeppen, B.A. Stanton), 7a Edizione, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2018 (ISBN 8808480046).

Berne & Levy Physiology, (B.M. Koeppen and B.A. Stanton, Editors) 7th edition, Elsevier, 2017 (ISBN: 0323393942).

For consultation:

Principi di Neuroscienze. E.R. Kandel et al., Editors), 4a Edizione, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2014 (ISBN 8808184455).

Principles of neural science. E.R. Kandel et al., Editors), 5th edition, McGraw-Hill Education, 2012 (ISBN 9780071390118).

Teaching methods

Lectures covering the whole course program.

Assessment methods

During the oral exam in Neurophysiology, students are individually questioned on a topic of the Neurophysiology program drawn randomly. If the answer is considered sufficient, it is evaluated with a variable score between 18 and 30 with honors. The achievement by the students of an organic vision of the topics discussed in the exam together with their critical use, the demonstration of the possession of an expressive and specific language mastery are evaluated with marks of excellence. The mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, capacity for synthesis and inarticulate analysis and/or a correct but not always appropriate language lead to discrete evaluations; training gaps and/or inappropriate language - even if in a context of minimal knowledge of the exam material - lead to grades that do not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the teaching materials offered during the course are evaluated negatively. The evaluation relating to the teaching of Neurophysiology weighs for one eighth in the calculation of the final grade relating to the integrated course of Nervous System Diseases. An insufficient assessment in Neurophysiology is not compatible with passing the exam in Nervous System Diseases.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools used for lectures: digital Video projector, PC.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Silvani