72583 - Social Neurosciences-

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will posses knowledge about the functional mechanisms and neural bases of social cognition and social behavior and their alteration in individuals with brain damage, and the main neuroscientific techniques and their integration in cognitive and social neuroscience

Course contents

The course will take place during the first semester (from September to December 2018) at the School of Psychology and Education, Cesena Campus (address: piazza A. Moro, 90, Aula D).

The purpose of the course is to survey the neural basis and functional mechanisms of social behavior and social cognition, and their alteration in patients with brain damage, drawing on both theoretical and empirical contributions of current literature. Topics will include social perception, imitation, theory of mind, empathy and social interactions between individuals and groups.

Specific contents:

- Perception of faces and bodies;

- Perception of social and emotional information;

- Perception and imitation of actions and the mirror neuron system;

- Simulation and inferential processes in Theory of Mind and empathy;

- Decision-making and social interaction

Readings/Bibliography

1) Mandatory teaching material: The following readings are mandatory to pass the final exam.

- Scientific papers and other course materials for this course (slides) will be made available at the course website (platform "insegnamenti online"; https://iol.unibo.it).

- Giacomo Rizzolatti & Corrado Sinigaglia (2006). "So quel che fai. Il cervello che agisce e i neuroni specchio". Editore Cortina Raffaello.

2) Optional teaching material for further insights: suggested optional readings are available at the course website.

Teaching methods

Each class meeting will include introductory reviews by faculty, student seminars based on recent literature, and final discussions. Thus, an active role in discussion is expected. Students are expected to read the assigned readings, and to come to class ready to participate with questions and a scientifically critical attitude.

Assessment methods

Written exam with 4 open-ended questions, lasting 80 minutes. The exam aims at verifying the acquisition of the expected knowledge about the neural bases and functional mechanisms underlying social cognition and behavior and their alteration in individuals with brain lesion, and the neuroscientific techniques and their integration in cognitive and social neuroscience. The final mark will be computed as the sum of the points obtained at the 4 questions (max 7.5 points each, attributed on the basis of the correctness and completeness of the answer).

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

Slides (PowerPoint)

Office hours

See the website of Alessio Avenanti