OVERVIEW

The Physiological Psychology course provides an overview of the methodologies used in cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, with a focus on cognitive, emotional, and motor processes. It lays the foundation for understanding both normal and pathological brain functioning.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims to provide critical knowledge of the historical and epistemological developments of neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. The goals of this course are:

1. To provide the notions of neuro-functional architectures of cognitive and emotional processes.

2. To distinguish anatomical description level over the hierarchical one of its explanations through functional neuroanatomy and architectural models of normal and pathological brain processes.

3. To acknowledge how these models can affect clinical evaluation and rehabilitation protocols. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, stude

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• describe the main models of cognitive functions (attention, memory, perception, emotion, language, executive functions) and their neural correlates;
• explain the main methodologies used in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience to measure mental functions and brain activity;
• identify and discuss functional alterations from a neuropsychological perspective in clinical conditions such as aphasias, dyslexias, apraxias, and various forms of neurodegenerative diseases;
• critically analyse the contribution of neuroimaging techniques, EEG, clinical interviews, and standardised tests in understanding cognitive disorders;
• produce written and oral descriptions of neuropsychological processes using appropriate scientific language;
• critically evaluate clinical cases and neuroscientific literature by applying the theoretical models acquired during the course.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of the anatomy of the nervous system and major cognitive functions is required. Students must have passed the exam “Anatomical and Physiological Foundations of Mental Activity”.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures are delivered in a participatory format, supported by multimedia materials (slides, videos) and interactive teaching tools (e.g., Wooclap and Padlet for real-time questions). All course materials are uploaded to Aulaweb.

Attendance is mandatory as required by the Degree Program regulations. Students with documented difficulties are advised to contact the instructor to request exemptions.

Non-attending students: students unable to attend are encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to explain their situation. All materials on Aulaweb, together with the recommended textbooks, provide a complete resource for exam preparation.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or other specific educational needs: students holding valid certifications for SLD, disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the instructor and the Department Inclusion Officer (Prof. Laura Traverso – laura.traverso@unige.it) at the beginning of the course, in order to agree on any adaptations to teaching methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take individual learning needs into account.

Erasmus students: textbooks adopted for the course are available in English. Upon request, the exam may be taken in English.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

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• Introduction to cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology
• Research methods: behavioural, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging
• The neuropsychological interview
• Neural bases and disorders of: attention, memory, perception, executive functions, language (aphasias, progressive aphasias), emotions (basic emotions, empathy, mirror neurons), movement (apraxias)
• Cognitive control and frontal lobes
• Brain plasticity and ageing
• Psychopathology and neuropsychology

The course contributes to the following UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, selected in the CATEGORIES section of the online form:

• Goal 4 – Quality Education: inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning
• Goal 5 – Gender Equality: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Materials provided by the instructor via Aulaweb.

Recommended textbooks for further study:

• Purves D. et al., Cognitive Neuroscience, Zanichelli, 2015
• Cazzaniga M. et al., Cognitive Neuroscience, Zanichelli, 2021
• Denes G. et al., Handbook of Neuropsychology, Zanichelli, 2019

Non-attending students and working students: the materials on Aulaweb and the recommended textbooks provide the complete reference for exam preparation. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course.

Students with SLD: please contact the instructor to discuss possible adaptations to study materials (e.g., accessible formats).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANDREA BRUGNOLO (President)

NICOLA GIOVANNI GIRTLER (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester of A.Y. 2026/2027. For the exact start date and timetable, please consult the academic calendar of the Degree Program at:

servizionline.unige.it – Students / Timetable and Academic Calendar

Class schedule

PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written examination consisting of 31 multiple-choice questions covering the entire syllabus. A list of practice questions will be made available on Aulaweb.

Oral or differentiated examinations are not foreseen, except in documented special cases (see Assessment Criteria below).

Erasmus students: upon request, the exam may be taken in English.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The multiple-choice written exam assesses the achievement of the stated learning outcomes as follows:

• Knowledge of cognitive function models and their neural correlates (outcomes 1–2): questions on the identification and description of main models and the corresponding neural bases.
• Knowledge and application of research methodologies (outcome 2): questions on the recognition and appropriate use of neuropsychological and neuroscientific techniques.
• Identification and discussion of neuropsychological clinical profiles (outcome 3): questions requiring students to link symptoms, diagnosis, and neural bases of aphasias, apraxias, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Critical analysis of neuroimaging and clinical assessment methodologies (outcome 4): questions requiring evaluation of the contribution and limitations of different diagnostic techniques.
• Correct use of scientific language and critical evaluation skills (outcomes 5–6): assessed through options requiring terminological precision and reasoned judgement applied to clinical cases or scenarios.

Students with disabilities, SLD, or other specific educational needs who have uploaded their certification via servizionline.unige.it may request exam accommodations following the procedure below.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a disability, with a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) or with a Special Educational Need (SEN) are reminded that, in order to request accommodations during examinations, they must first submit their certification to the University's Office for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLD.

Subsequently, to request examination accommodations, students with a disability or SLD are required to complete the form available on this page: Services for Students with Disabilities or SLD | UniGe | University of Genoa. Students with a SEN, on the other hand, are required to send an e-mail to the lecturer, copying in the School Coordinator for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLD (laura.traverso@unige.it) and the "Student Inclusion" Office <inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it>. The e-mail must specify:

• the name of the course
• the date of the examination session
• their surname, first name and student ID number
• the compensatory tools and exemption measures considered appropriate and being requested.