ID:
510274
Duration (hours):
72
CFU:
12
SSD:
PSICOBIOLOGIA E PSICOLOGIA FISIOLOGICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 22/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of the workings of the central nervous system as an information processing device. We’ll address: (i) the basic cellular and physiological mechanisms behind the transmission of nervous signals; (ii) the macro-organization of the neuro-cognitive system; (iii) the fundamentals of cognitive neuropsychology (the clinical symptoms, the theoretical interpretation of the main disorders arising from neural injuryì); and (iv) the core themes in the contemporary neuro-cognitive landscape.
The expected outcomes are:
● The ability to understand and use information in neurophysiology and neuropsychology.
● The ability to interpret a set of neuro-cognitive data.
● The ability to interpret a neuropsychological examination.
● The ability to formulate theoretical and diagnostic hypotheses on the basis of cognitive data.
The expected outcomes are:
● The ability to understand and use information in neurophysiology and neuropsychology.
● The ability to interpret a set of neuro-cognitive data.
● The ability to interpret a neuropsychological examination.
● The ability to formulate theoretical and diagnostic hypotheses on the basis of cognitive data.
Course Prerequisites
There is no previous knowledge that is strictly necessary for this course. The course is entirely self-contained.
Teaching Methods
The course is mainly based on frontal lectures and interaction in class. Depending on the number of the students, group activities might also be carried out.
Attendance in class, though not obligatory, is strongly encouraged. Interaction in class is key to good learning.
Attendance in class, though not obligatory, is strongly encouraged. Interaction in class is key to good learning.
Assessment Methods
The exams will consist of a written test with 27 multiple-choice questions and one open question that will require a brief written response.
The multiple-choice questions will assess the knowledge of the facts. There will probably be four options, one of which is correct. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, 0 for omissions and -0.33 for errors.
The open question assesses instead the students’ ability to reason about the facts learned during the course, their deeper understanding of the core facts (and their ability to identify them among less important aspects), and their ability to convey these skills. This question is worth 6 points, and a good answer here is necessary for laude.
The multiple-choice questions will assess the knowledge of the facts. There will probably be four options, one of which is correct. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, 0 for omissions and -0.33 for errors.
The open question assesses instead the students’ ability to reason about the facts learned during the course, their deeper understanding of the core facts (and their ability to identify them among less important aspects), and their ability to convey these skills. This question is worth 6 points, and a good answer here is necessary for laude.
Texts
Cognitive Neuroscience sits between Biology, Psychology, Computational Science and Philosophy; manuals reflect this, and each of them uses more one field’s or the other’s approach and language. So I decided to flag up a few different books and tell you guys what you can expect from them, so that everyone can tailor their reading materials to their interests and inclination.
- Gazzaniga MS, Ivry RB, Mangun GD. Neuroscienze Cognitive. Zanichelli. Chapters: all except 14-15. This is the jack for all trades, with a very solid introduction to neurophysiology and cellular communication and a great coverage of systems and neuropsychology. If you want to limit yourself to one book, this is the one.
- Martin AR, Brown DA, Diamond ME, Cattaneo A, De Miguel FF. Dai neuroni al cervello. Zanichelli. Chapters: 1-11, 13-17, 21-26. This is the legendary “Nicholls”, from the name of the original author (who just passed away in 2023, aged 94). It’s excellent for cells, molecules and more generally the biological basis of cognition. It is also perfect for perception, but lacks a bit of width (e.g., there’s barely mention of higher cognitive functions, like language and executive functions). If you’re interested in the “micro”, this book is fantastic, but you’ll have to integrate with the Gazzaniga (ch. 4-13 and 16).
- Bear MF, Connors BW, Paradiso MA.
Neuroscienze. Esplorando il cervello (Masson, quarta o terza Edizione). Chapters: 1-7, 9-10, 12-14, 16, 18, 20-21, 23-24. This is probably the best for the neurophysiological basis of cognition (ch. 1-7) and it’s also quite good on systems. However, it has important gaps, like executive functions, and has nearly no neuropsychology (which I’d suggest you integrate with the last chapter of Umiltà).
- Presti DE. Fondamenti di Neuroscienze. Il Mulino. Chapters 1-7, 11, 14-19, 21-22. This book is lovely, and is probably the most pleasant to read; it unfolds a bit like fiction, with a nice storyline that will bring you from A to B just smooth. It has a lot of chemical and physical bases, but they're told very accessibly. Unfortunately, it has gaps, too (e.g., it is a bit superficial on language), which makes this a perfect companion to a more complete manual (like the Gazzaniga), rather than the reference text.
- Umiltà C. Manuale di neuroscienze. Il Mulino. Chapter 5 in this book is a very good, yet concise introduction to neuropsychology. You won’t find anything as good as this in the other books. So if you want to be champions, read the Gazzaniga and the last chapter in this book.
- Gazzaniga MS, Ivry RB, Mangun GD. Neuroscienze Cognitive. Zanichelli. Chapters: all except 14-15. This is the jack for all trades, with a very solid introduction to neurophysiology and cellular communication and a great coverage of systems and neuropsychology. If you want to limit yourself to one book, this is the one.
- Martin AR, Brown DA, Diamond ME, Cattaneo A, De Miguel FF. Dai neuroni al cervello. Zanichelli. Chapters: 1-11, 13-17, 21-26. This is the legendary “Nicholls”, from the name of the original author (who just passed away in 2023, aged 94). It’s excellent for cells, molecules and more generally the biological basis of cognition. It is also perfect for perception, but lacks a bit of width (e.g., there’s barely mention of higher cognitive functions, like language and executive functions). If you’re interested in the “micro”, this book is fantastic, but you’ll have to integrate with the Gazzaniga (ch. 4-13 and 16).
- Bear MF, Connors BW, Paradiso MA.
Neuroscienze. Esplorando il cervello (Masson, quarta o terza Edizione). Chapters: 1-7, 9-10, 12-14, 16, 18, 20-21, 23-24. This is probably the best for the neurophysiological basis of cognition (ch. 1-7) and it’s also quite good on systems. However, it has important gaps, like executive functions, and has nearly no neuropsychology (which I’d suggest you integrate with the last chapter of Umiltà).
- Presti DE. Fondamenti di Neuroscienze. Il Mulino. Chapters 1-7, 11, 14-19, 21-22. This book is lovely, and is probably the most pleasant to read; it unfolds a bit like fiction, with a nice storyline that will bring you from A to B just smooth. It has a lot of chemical and physical bases, but they're told very accessibly. Unfortunately, it has gaps, too (e.g., it is a bit superficial on language), which makes this a perfect companion to a more complete manual (like the Gazzaniga), rather than the reference text.
- Umiltà C. Manuale di neuroscienze. Il Mulino. Chapter 5 in this book is a very good, yet concise introduction to neuropsychology. You won’t find anything as good as this in the other books. So if you want to be champions, read the Gazzaniga and the last chapter in this book.
Contents
1. Intro to Neuroscience (week 1)
• From micro to macro, from matter to information (molecules, cells, cerebral areas, systems and behaviour)
• The mind and the brain
2. The neurophysiological basis of cognition (week 2 and 3)
• The cells of the central nervous system
• Neurophysiology of the neuron and computation (ion channels, membrane potential, action potential, synaptic transmission)
3. Large-scale organization of the central nervous system (week 4)
• Cortex and white matter
• Lobes and gyri
• The brain stem, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the spinal chord
4. Methods in Neuroscience (week 5 and 6)
• Cognitive psychology and mental operations
• Computational models, AI
• Work with animals (single cell recording, lesions, genetic manipulation, ethics in this type of research)
• Neuropsychology (aetiologies, double dissociation, single cases, syndromes)
• Neurosurgery (ablations, awake neuropsychology, intracranial recordings)
• Transcranic Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Electrical and magnetic fields (M/EEG)
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
5. Systems neuroscience and neuropsychology (weeks 7-10)
• Transduction and perception
• Higher perception (identification, time, space)
• Attention
• Action planning and control
• Executive functions
• Emotion and motivation
• Language
• Learning and memory
• Consciousness
7. History of neuroscience (week 11)
• Thought and brain in the pre-modern eras
• Behavioural neurology (XIX century)
• Behaviourism and the brain disappears (beginning of 1900)
• AI and the cognitive revolution (post WWII)
• Cognitive Neuroscience (the 1990s and 2000s)
• From micro to macro, from matter to information (molecules, cells, cerebral areas, systems and behaviour)
• The mind and the brain
2. The neurophysiological basis of cognition (week 2 and 3)
• The cells of the central nervous system
• Neurophysiology of the neuron and computation (ion channels, membrane potential, action potential, synaptic transmission)
3. Large-scale organization of the central nervous system (week 4)
• Cortex and white matter
• Lobes and gyri
• The brain stem, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the spinal chord
4. Methods in Neuroscience (week 5 and 6)
• Cognitive psychology and mental operations
• Computational models, AI
• Work with animals (single cell recording, lesions, genetic manipulation, ethics in this type of research)
• Neuropsychology (aetiologies, double dissociation, single cases, syndromes)
• Neurosurgery (ablations, awake neuropsychology, intracranial recordings)
• Transcranic Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Electrical and magnetic fields (M/EEG)
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
5. Systems neuroscience and neuropsychology (weeks 7-10)
• Transduction and perception
• Higher perception (identification, time, space)
• Attention
• Action planning and control
• Executive functions
• Emotion and motivation
• Language
• Learning and memory
• Consciousness
7. History of neuroscience (week 11)
• Thought and brain in the pre-modern eras
• Behavioural neurology (XIX century)
• Behaviourism and the brain disappears (beginning of 1900)
• AI and the cognitive revolution (post WWII)
• Cognitive Neuroscience (the 1990s and 2000s)
Course Language
This course will be held in Italian.
More information
Davide is available for meetings by appointment. Please email him at davide.crepaldi@unipv.it.
Degrees
Degrees
PHILOSOPHY
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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