45271 - Behavioural Rhythms and Sleep-Waking Cycle

Learning outcomes

The course intends to offer a synthetic and adjourned panorama of the actual knowledge in the field of chronobiology and chronopsychology. In a chronopsychology perspectives it will be examined the meaning of the wake/sleep alternation within the 24 hours.

Fundamental concepts will be introduced for being able to correctly appraise disorders tied up to alterations of the sleep/wake cycle.

Using such knowledge the students should be able, at the end of the course, to plan terapeutic programs within health psychology.

Course contents

The course will take place during the first semester (from  24 September to December 2024) at the Department of Psychology (address: Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5).

Introductory notes - Theories related to the functions of sleep. Review on the beliefs and theories around the nature and the meaning of the dreaming.

Methods of search - Techniques of study of the sleep. Techniques of study of the dream.

Physiological aspects - The sleep onset process. The awakening process. Two types of sleep: NREM and REM. Need of sleep.

Chronobiology - Classification of the rhythms: infradian, circadian, ultradian. Chronobiological model of sleep regulation.

Chronopsychology - Effects of the time of day on the cognitive process: attention, memory, emotions.

Clinical aspects - Classification of the sleep disorder. Chronobiological aspects in clinical psychology.

Applied Chronopsychology - Protocols of chronopsychological intervention in the clinical, scholastic and job field.

Readings/Bibliography

Lavie P. (1996). The enchanted world of sleep.

or

Natale V. (1998). I ritmi della mente. Roma: Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore.

Book suggested

Occhionero M. (2009). Il sogno. Roma: Carocci editore.

Rosenthal N., Barbato G. & Bonaveglio G. (2002). Le stagioni e la mente.Milano: Longanesi.

Horne J.A. (1988). Why we sleep?

Ficca G. & Fabbri M. (a cura di) (2019). Psicologia del sonno. Rimini: Maggioli Editore.

Teaching methods

Traditional didactics. At the end of the course connected problem list with the planning of interventions of applied chronopsychology will be discussed. The course will be placed side by side by exercises (nighttime) in the laboratory. Students will be offered to the opportunity to personally experiment the employment of the polygraphy and the actigraphy. These activities can also be programmed over the term of the course.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Projector, Overhead projector

Office hours

See the website of Vincenzo Natale