95825 - Nutrition and Psychological and Cognitive Wellbeing

Learning outcomes

The course will address issues related to the role of eating habits in both cognitive and psychological well-being. Furthermore, the course will address how food is represented in our mind, how it can influence our eating habits and how they can be altered in eating and body representation disorders.

Course contents

• Historical and methodological preliminary notions;
• Introductions to the psychology of perception, memory attention and object recognition;
• Emotions and emotional intelligence
• Human communication and its importance in the approach with the person suffering from discomforts
• Eating behavior disorders
• Motivational aspects and rewards
• The impact of the context

Readings/Bibliography

- Slides of the lessons: the slides can be downloaded from the "Virtuale"
- Scientific articles (in English)
- Recommended manuals:

• Guida per cervelli affamati. Coricelli, Rossi. Il saggiatore. 2021
• La fame e l'abbondanza. Montanari. Laterza. 2022

NB. The recommended manuals are not mandatory. However they can be purchased or consulted for further information.

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of 6 CFU, corresponding to 36 hours of frontal lessons: Some hours will be dedicated to experiences and laboratories concerning with the topics of the course.

Assessment methods

The exam verifies the level of acquisition of the materials provided during the course. The exam consists of a written essay. The essay has to be sent to the teacher in the agreed date.

During one of the last lessons, a few topics will be indicated to the students: each student will have the opportunity to choose ONE topic to develop his own REASONED  of the chosen topic by integrating what was reported in class with input emerging from personal researches, or with what is reported in the suggested books, and scientific articles recommended/indicated in class.

Marks are assigned considering the following indications:

1. Essay reporting the chosen topic as it was presented during the course; Absence of personal analysis or reasoning; Overall correct linguistic expressions → 18-19;

2. Essay reporting the chosen topic as it was presented during the course; Presence of personal analysis or reasoning; Overall correct linguistic expressions → 20-22;

3. Essay reporting the chosen topic in relation to the other topics presented during the course; Ability to make independent choices of critical analysis; Mastery of specific terminology → 23-25;

4. Essay reporting the chosen topic in relation to the other topics presented during the course; Ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connection with external inputs; Full mastery of the specific terminology → 26-28.

5. Essay reporting the chosen topic in relation to the other topics presented during the course; Ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connection with external inputs with a strong ability to argue and self-reflect; Full mastery of the specific terminology → 29-30L.

Abstracts are not allowed. DO NOT copy/paste from the internet or from texts – otherwise the test will be cancelled. Thanks to the anti-plagiarism programs made available by the University of Bologna, the teacher will check for any copying in the text and without citations.

the student must deliver the thesis by the set date, in word format (.doc or .docx), Calibri 12 font, and line spacing 1.5, justified on the left. The maximum length of the paper is 3 pages, the minimum 1.5 pages (A4 format). If necessary, all quotations must be enclosed in inverted commas ("...") and report - in a clear and unambiguous way - the source from which they were taken, indicating the author, the title of the text and the page.

STUDENTS WITH DSA DIAGNOSIS:
The use of compensatory or dispensatory subsidies is foreseen, in the manner agreed with the teacher, for students with a diagnosis of DSA or another disability officially recognized and declared at the Service for students with disabilities and with DSA of the University of Bologna.

EXAM REGISTRATION: 
To take the exam, registration is required using the function on the Alma Esami website, in observance of the established deadlines. In case of difficulty or problems, the student can contact the Didactic Secretariat.

Teaching tools

Power-point presentations, videos, paper-and-pencil practice materials, external visits to local agencies or health services. 

The slides of the course and scientific papers will be uploaded to: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

 

This teaching program may undergo variations, please stay updated by visiting this page from time to time.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Ottoboni