PHYSIOLOGY AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF MOTOR CONTROL
cod. 1008655

Academic year 2019/20
1° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
BORRA Elena
integrated course unit
8 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

At the end of the course the student knows and undertstands the main short and long term modifications of the human body induced by physical activity, the neural mechanisms underlying motor control and the principles of the neuropathology of the motor system, of the methods and techniques for neurological examination. The course also aims to provide an appropriate knowledge of growth in pediatric age, emphasizing the environmental influences in order to reach an appropiate level of competence and professionalism.

Prerequisites

Course unit content

The course consists of different modules aiming to provide a multidisciplinary view of the physiological mechanisms underlying short and long term adaptation to physical activity, of the neural mechanisms underlying motor control and of the main signs, symptoms, deficit and problems of motor control deriving from lesions and diseases of the nervous system. The course also aims to provide a general view of the growth in pediatric age, emphasizing the environmental
influences (see specific forms)

Full programme

Applied Exercise Physiology: Cardiorespiratory Responses to Acute Exercise: Cardiovascular Responses to Acute Exercise; Respiratory Responses to Acute Exercise. Muscle and training; Training for Anaerobic and Aerobic Power. Reflexes and posture control. Cortical control of voluntary movements (motor and premotor cortex; planning and execution of voluntary movements; visuomotor integration; space coding; sensory and visual feedback in motor control). Role of Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum in motor control. Plasticity, Learning and memory
Basic principles of motor system clinical examination; Motor syndromes; Basic principles of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Botulinum toxin and its role in motor disorders.
Definition and general principles of auxology; Growth in pediatric age. Intrinsic factors regulating growth. Extrinsic factors regulating growth. Nutrition and physical activity. Methods for studying growth of weight and height. Definition of puberty. Abnormalities of timing of puberty. Diseases of puberty: precocious and delayed puberty.

Bibliography

Autori vari: “Fisiologia dell’Uomo”, Edi-Ermes. CL. Stanflield: “Fisiologia”, EdiSES. D. Purves e altri autori: “Neuroscienze”, Zanichelli.
Maurizio Vanelli ARGOMENTI DI PEDIATRIA Per la formazione degli studenti del Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia ISBN978-88-7847-454-3 Collana Saperi, MUP Editore
Castello M., Duse M. Manuale di Pediatria. Piccin Editore
GV Zuccotti, M. Giovannini Manuale di Pediatria, La Pratica Clinica, Società Editrice Esculapio.
Scientific papers and course pack

Teaching methods

oral lesson

Assessment methods and criteria

The examination is oral and will aim to verify the knowledge of the students on the content of the course and the capacity of applying this knowledge to realistic examples.

Other information