02207 - General Psychology

Learning outcomes

 

This course provides an introduction to the concepts, theories, and research behind the study of human information processing and behavior. Specifically, we will examined human cognition, including perception, attention, learning, memory and their relationship with emotion and motivation. 

Course contents

·      General Introduction to course content

·      Biological bases of Cognitive Processes

·      Research Methods for the study of the Cognitive Processes

·       

·      PERCEPTION

·      i) Functional Meaning; ii) Relationship between perceptive process and reality; iii) Bottom-up and top-down mechanisms; iv) Perceptual Deficits (i.e. Agnosia)

 

·      ATTENTION

i)              Functional Meaning; ii) Relationship between attention and perception; iii) Attention and information processing; iv) Stimuli selection; v) Deficits of Attention

 

·      MEMORY

i)              Memory System ii) Memory processes iii) Relationship between attention and memory; iv) Working Memory; v) Deficits of Memory

 

·      LEARNING

i)              Habituation; ii) Imprinting; iii) Classical Conditioning; iv) Operant Conditioning iv) Social Learning Processes; v) The role of Sleep on Learning and Memory processes

 

·      EMOTION and MOTIVATION

i)              Functional Meaning; iii) categorical model of emotion; ii) valence and arousal; iii) Relationship between emotion and motivational systems; iv) Relationship between emotion and attention; v) Relationship between emotion and memory

 

·      In-depth:

i)              COGNITIVE PROCESSES AND THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES (Placebo and Nocebo Effects) 

Readings/Bibliography

P. Legrenzi, C. Papagno, C. Umilta' “Psicologia Generale _ Dal Cervello alla Mente”, Il Mulino, Bologna 2012-10-07

Capitoli:   1 (da paragrafo 6 incluso), 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (fino a paragrafo 4 escluso)

 

D. Western "PSICOLOGIA 1" ed. Zanichelli,  Bologna ristampa del 2007

Capitoli: 5, 10

 

 

E. Ladavas e A. Berti “Neuropsicologia” Il Mulino, Bologna 2009

Capitoli:   7, 8

 

 

F. Benedetti “L'Effetto Placebo – Breve Viaggio tra Mente e Corpo” , Carrocci Editore, Roma 2012

Teaching methods

The in-class lectures will focus on human cognition, including perception, attention, learning, memory and their relationship with emotion and motivation. The lectures will be supplemented with practical example and exercises in groups or in the laboratory. The practical exercises in the laboratory will be carried out individually and aimed at giving all students the opportunity to tackle real study of cognitive processes. 

Assessment methods

Students must sit a written test comprising of a series of questions that aim to ascertain students' understanding of the contents presented during lectures. Specifically, the test includes 12 open questions requesting brief answers.

 

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, laboratories (participations to studies with the aim to investigate specific cognitive functions)

Office hours

See the website of Katia Mattarozzi