93505 - Cognitive Neuroscience and Brain Plasticity

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students know the brain processes underlying maturation, plasticity and aging and the associated changes in cognitive and emotional functions across the life span.

Course contents

The course is designed to provide advanced knowledge of the neural basis and functional mechanisms of human behaviour, and affective and cognitive processes, and the alteration of these processes in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders, drawing on both theoretical, methodological and empirical contributions of current literature, and integrating different methodological approaches, including behavioural, neurophysiological, psychopharmacological, computational and neuroimaging.

The course involves 2 modules, whose specific contents are the following:

Avenanti's Module (2 credits, 15 hours)

• Methods in Cognitive and affective

Borgomaneri's Module (6 credits, 45 hours)

• Brain maturation
• Processing emotional and social information: Theories of emotions, perceptions of emotions, fear conditioning and empathy
• Healthy aging: changes in behavioral and neuroanatomical substrates

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific papers and other course materials for this course will be made available at the course website. These readings are mandatory to pass the final exam.

 

Suggested bibliography:

• Banich, M.T. & Compton R.J. (2018) Cognitive Neuroscience, 4th Edition. Cambridge University Press.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures during which the topic of each module will be interactively discussed, group discussions of neuroscientific papers, works in small groups with class presentation, seminars presented by experts

 

 

Students will also be able to take lessons online via Teams software.

Assessment methods

Written exam with 4 open-ended questions (1 question for module 1 and 3 questions for module 2) to complete in 80 minutes (approximately 20 minutes per question).

There will be 5/30 points maximum for correctly answering each of the six open-ended questions. The final mark is calculated as the sum of the points obtained at each of the 4 questions.

The following criteria will be applied for the evaluation of each answer.

An answer which

demonstrates extensive knowledge and understanding of tested topic (up to 2.5 points);

reveals critical analysis and ability to integrate different aspects of the tested topic (up to 1.5 points);

is well-written, and logically articulated (up to 1 point).

During the exam students are not allowed to consult any materials, such as textbooks, notes, electronic devices.

It is necessary to sign up for the examination through the dedicated website, and within the deadline. Any problem in registering through the website should be promptly communicated to the administrative staff.

Teaching tools

Slides (PowerPoint) and video clips

Office hours

See the website of Sara Borgomaneri

See the website of Alessio Avenanti