EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

PSICOG09

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in PSYCHOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology

Language:

Italian

Location:

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

BALDASSARRE ANTONELLO

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

136

Prerequisites:

As a prerequisite, the students are required an advanced psychobiological knowledge.

Objectives

The module contributes to the fulfillment of the educational goals of the Psychology Master Degree, by providing the instruments for the comprehension of the mind-brain-behavior relationship in atypical populations, which suffered brain injuries.
The student will have to demonstrate the acquisition of:
1) knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological bases of the discipline, with particular reference to the most recent development of anatomo-clinical correlation;
2) knowledge and understanding of the neuropsychological deficits included in the course programme;
3) ability of linking and integrating knowledge;
4) ability of developing original ideas on the way of studying and evaluating the neuropsychological deficits by means of modern anatomo-clinical correlation, as well as of formulating hypotheses on physiological and pathological brain functioning;
5) ability of communicating knowledge in a clear way and through disciplinary lexicon;
6) ability of critically and autonomously analyzing topics of main interest.

Contents

The course provides advanced knowledge on experimental and clinical neuropsychology, with particular emphasis on modern anatomo-clinical correlation and disconnectionist interpretations of the main neuropsychological syndromes.
By developing critical thought in both theoretical and methodological domain, the course provides the crucial cognitive instruments for a productive integration within multidisciplinary equipes in clinical and research settings.
The course is made up of two parts.
The first part deals with the theoretical and methodological foundations of neuropsychology. In particular, through an historical-methodological excursus on anatomo-clinical correlation, the framework of connectomal diaschisis is presented, with a focus on the changes of the brain systems following structural damage. Furthermore, knowledge about the applications of structural and functional imaging techniques in the neuropsychological field is provided.
The second part presents the clinical description, theoretical interpretations and neural bases of the main syndromes and disorders following acquired cerebral injuries.

Extended Syllabus

Part I.
Theoretical and methodological foundations of neuropsychology.
Classical associationist and neo-associationist school; modern approaches to anatomo-clinical correlation. Connectomal diaschisis framework, which considers both structural lesions and functional alterations within structurally intact cortical networks. Resting-state functional connectivity in neuropsychology.
Part II.
Classical neuropsychological disorders and syndromes (aphasia, dyslexia and dysgraphia, dyscalculia, apraxia, agnosia, amnesia, attentional and visuo-spatial disorders, body representation disorders, executive syndromes, dementia), disorders of awareness, emotional and psychiatric disorders following acquired brain injuries.

Observation of clinical cases for symptoms analysis; analysis of scientific articles in the field of neuropsychology.

Recommended Bibliography

Part I:
Scientific articles available on the Course e-learning page.

Part II:
Manuale di neuropsicologia. Giuseppe Vallar and Costanza Papagno. Ed: Il Mulino. Third edition.
Slides of the course.
Optional readings:
- Manuale di neuropsicologia. Normalità e patologia dei processi cognitivi. Franco Denes et al. Ed: Zanichelli. Third edition.
- Neuropsicologia dei lobi frontali. Sindromi disesecutive e disturbi del comportamento. Dario Grossi and Luigi Trojano. Ed: Il Mulino. Second edition.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The course has 60-hour duration, and the contents are presented through lessons in lecture hall, taking advantage of power point or similar software slides (made available to the students), reading and discussion of scientific articles, as well as critical vision of explicative clinical cases.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam will be oral.

Contacts/More Information

It is possible to participate to the scientific meetings organised by the Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience.
To receive alerts, the students are required to send an e-mail to the address neuropsicolab@gmail.com, asking for signing up to the newsletter.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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