NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The aim of the course is to study in depth the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the main cognitive functions and some examples of animal and human behaviour
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of neuron physiology and of the neurophysiology of sensory and motor functions
Course contents summary
General principles of the organization of cerebral cortex in relation to cognitive functions. Description of the main experimental approaches to the investigation of cognitive functions. Neurophysiological coding of space. Attention. Face recognition. Object perception and object pragmatic description. Perception of biological stimuli. Neurobiological models of learning and memory. Language and communication: Phylogenetic and neurobiological aspects. Emotions.
Recommended readings
Zigmond M.J. et al. Neuroscienze. Ed. Edises
Pinel. Psicobiologia. Ed. Il Mulino
Kandel, Schwartz and Jessel. Principi di Neuroscienze. Ed. Ambrosiana
Teaching methods
Traditional lesson, seminars, article reading and discussion
Assessment methods and criteria
Periodic written tests. Final oral examination on the suggested textbooks
