06551 - Neurophysiology

Learning outcomes

The couse is aimed to provide: a) the neurophysiological bases of the cerebral functions; b) the general principles of neurobiology; c) the organization of sensory and motor systems; d) analysis of the control systems of visceral functions and of homeostasis.

Course contents

Cellular components of the nervous system:

- Neurons

- Glial cells

 

Neuron excitability:

- Electrical potential at rest

- The properties of the action potential

- The transmission of the action potential

 

Synaptic transmission:

- The types of synapse

- The principles of synaptic transmission

- Neurotransmitters 

 

Genetics of behavior:

- DNA, genes and behavior

- Genetic and multifactorial diseases

- epigeneticsand behavior

 

Anatomy of the nervous system:

- Spinal cord 

- Cerebellum

- Diencephalon

- Telencephalon

- Meninges

- Liquor

 

The peripheral nervous system:

-Somatic nervous system

- Autonomic nervous system

 

Visual system:

- light properties and eye structure

- Generation of the imagine trought the eye

- Signal trasduction

- Retinal projections

 

The auditory system:

- The sound and the structure of the auditory system

- The internal ear

- The central auditory processes

- The encoding of the intensity and frequency of the sound

- The sound localization mechanisms

- The auditory cortex

 

Balance and the vestibular system

 

The sense of smell and taste

 

The somatosensory system:

- The proprioceptive and tactile sensitivity

- The thermal and pain sensitivity

 

The hormonal control of behavior:

- Endocrine system and hormones

- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland

- Gonads

- Stress response

 

Homeostasis:

- Nutrition regulation

- Regulation of body fluids

 

Biological rithms and sleep:

- Wake-sleep cycle

- Sleep disorders

 

Memory and learning:

- Types of memory and learning

- Neural mechanisms of memory

Readings/Bibliography

Fondamenti anatomofisiologici della attivita’ psichica - A cura di Angelo Maravita, Poletto Editore, 2018

Alternatively:

- Neuroscienze - Purves, Augustine et al. Editore Zanichelli, 5° Ed, 2021

- Principi di Neuroscienze - Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM et al. - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 4° Ed. 2015

Teaching methods

The course is based on lectures and smartphone Apps

Assessment methods

The exam is aimed at verifying the learning of the concepts presented during the lessons. The exam will take place in written form with a quiz consisting of 33 multiple choice questions to be completed in 30 minutes.


The questions will cover the entire program carried out during the last academic year and will be based on the slides provided on the platform virtuale.unibo.it. All the topics included in the course program will be part of the final exam even if they are not properly treated in the text book.


The exam will be considered sucessfully passed if at least 18 questions will be answered correctly. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. There are no penalties for incorrect answers. Those who will correctly answer more than 30 questions will get 30 cum laude.

Registration on Almaesami.it is mandatory to access to the exam. The results will be published on almaesami.it and all the students who successfully passed the exam are required to accept or reject the vote whithin 3 days. After this period, the unconfirmed results will be automatically accepted and verbalized.   

GIVEN THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, MORE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE UPLOADED, IN DUE TIME, ON VIRTUALE.UNIBO.IT


Registration on Almaesami is mandatory in order to take the exam.

The use of calculation tools or vocabularies is not required to take the exam.


For DSA students, extra time or the use of specific supports will be guaranteed as indicated by the competent offices.


The use of the vocabulary will be allowed for Erasmus students.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be performed using electronic slides and videos mainly taken from the suggested text books.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Bastianini