AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the knowledge required to understand the characteristics of bioelectrical signals and the methodologies used for their acquisition and analysis in both clinical practice and neuroscience research.

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

• describe the main physiological and physical characteristics of EEG and EMG signals and apply good practices for acquiring high-quality bioelectrical data;
• understand and explain the principal signal processing techniques, ranging from time-domain methods to frequency-domain transformations;
• critically apply the main bioelectrical signal analysis tools, understanding their advantages, limitations, and fields of application;
• interpret the results of signal analyses according to the underlying clinical or scientific research question;
• discuss applications of advanced signal analysis techniques, such as neurofeedback methodologies, distinguishing their clinical and research uses;
• use appropriate technical terminology when describing the acquisition and analysis of bioelectrical signals. 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 20 hours of face-to-face lectures.

Students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other special educational needs are encouraged to contact the lecturer at the beginning of the course, as well as the Department's Inclusion Coordinator, in order to agree on appropriate teaching and assessment arrangements. These arrangements will be designed to respect the learning objectives of the course while taking into account individual learning needs and providing any compensatory or dispensatory measures recognized by the University's SLD Support Service.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course covers the following topics:

• Introduction to bioelectrical signals: physiological origin, good practices for bioelectrical signal acquisition, and main sources of noise.
• Principles of electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG).
• Temporal and spectral characteristics of bioelectrical signals.
• Time-domain signal analysis.
• Frequency-domain analysis: Fourier Transform and spectral analysis.
• Advanced bioelectrical signal analysis techniques.
• Introduction to the main quantitative indices used in neuroscience research.
• Principles and applications of neurofeedback.
• Case studies and applications in clinical practice and experimental research.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Preparation for the exam is based exclusively on the teaching materials provided during the lectures (slides, handouts, and any additional material distributed by the lecturer).

Additional references for further reading will be provided during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The assessment consists of an individual oral examination.

The oral examination covers the entire course syllabus and includes questions designed to assess the student's understanding of the theoretical principles, signal acquisition methodologies, and bioelectrical signal analysis techniques, as well as the ability to discuss their applications in both clinical practice and research.

The final grade for the course is calculated as the weighted average of the marks obtained in all the modules of the Sleep Medicine course.

For students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (DSA), disabilities, or other special educational needs, the University regulations and policies regarding disability and DSA apply (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/studenti-disabilit%C3%A0-normativa).