72600 - Methodology of Research in Neurosciences (A)

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Moduli: Alessio Avenanti (Modulo 1) Giuseppe Di Pellegrino (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Neurosciences and neuro-psychological rehabilitation (cod. 0989)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students: i) posses knowledge about functional neuroanatomy and the major manifestations of neurological disorders; ii) possess knowledge about the principal experimental techniques and data analysis tools in neuroscience; iii) posses knowledge about methods and experimental designs in neuroscientific research; iv) knows how to plan a research project in neuroscience and how to make a report of neuroscientific data 

Course contents

The course will take place during the first semester (from September to December 2017) at the School of Psychology and Education, Cesena Campus (address: piazza A. Moro, 90). Prof. di Pellegrino's module will be held in Aula Anfiteatro. Prof. Avenanti's module will be held in Aula Informatica I.

The course provides advanced knowledge on functional neuronatomy, research methods and techniques in Neuroscience, analysis of neuroscientific and behavioral data through software (Excel, SPSS).

Prof. di Pellegrino's module content:

- Cerebral hemispheres;

- Diencephalon;

- Brain stem (midbrain, pons, medulla), the cerebellum, and the spinal cord;

- Ventricles and arterial supply of the brain;

- Localization of relevant neural (cortical and subcortical) structures in horizontal, sagittal, and coronal sections of the brain, and in MRI and CT scans;

- Main causes of neurological disorders.

 

Prof. Avenanti's module content:

- Methods and Experimental designs in Neuroscience;

- Tabulation, data analysis and graphs with Excel;

- Data analysis (ANOVA, regression) with statistical software (SPSS);

- Writing a report: description, interpretation and discussion of data.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides and solutions of exercises.

For the Prof. di Pellegrino's module: Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 3, 15th ed., English/Latin: Head, Neck and Neuroanatomy (Kindle Edition). Authors: Friedrich Paulsen & Jens Waschke. Urban & Fischer, Elsevier; 15th  edition (2013).

For the Prof. Avenanti's module, students may want to consult statistical books addressing the following arguments: analysis of variance (ANOVA: repeated measure, between groups, factorial designs, mixed designs, planned comparisons and post-hoc analysis), correlation, bivariate and multiple regression.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons and practical exercises in laboratory by means of computers

Assessment methods

For the module of Prof. di Pellegrino: written exam lasting 30 minutes. The exam aims at verifying the acquisition of the expected knowledge about neuroanatomy: students will be required to label cerebral structures shown on pitcures from neuroanatomical atlas and identify pathological conditions based on TC an MRI images. Points: 0-10

For the module of Prof. Avenanti: Written exam on a computer lasting 3 h. The exam includes answering theoretical questions about methods and experimental designs in neuroscience research, analyzing real data using Excel and SPSS software, and reporting the results and interpretation of statistical analysis using Word software. Points: 0-20.

The final mark will be computed as the sum of the points obtained in the two module.

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. Avenanti (within the terms) who will consider the request and decide about the admission.

Teaching tools


Presentation of slides, neuroanatomy atlas and data to analyze in class with datasheet, word processor and statistical software

Office hours

See the website of Alessio Avenanti

See the website of Giuseppe Di Pellegrino