- Know the main theoretical assumptions of the various cognitive abilities, to explain the mechanisms by which human beings adapt and react to the external environment. - Demonstrate an understanding of the historical basis of how psychology was formed. - Understand and evaluating basic research methods used by psychologists to address different hypotheses. - Differentiate between several measures of brain activity used in biopsychological research. - Identify theoretical underpinnings of the major areas of psychology, including cognition (thought, memory, perception), learning, personality, social and environmental influences, development, and physiology of behavior.
The course will address the following topics:
1. history of psychology.
2. methods of investigation.
3. sensation and perception.
4. attention.
5. awareness.
6. learning.
7. memory.
8. emotions.
9. motivation.
10. language and thinking.
11. intelligence.
Lectures dedicated to each of the topics will be given. The teacher strongly encourages active participation of the students with questions and open discussion.
Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN | Note |
Bonfiglioli e Castiello | Metodi di indagine in neuroscienze cognitive | Piccin | 2005 | ||
Purves D, et al. | Neuroscienze Cognitive (Edizione 2) | Zanichelli | 2015 | ||
Castiello | Tecniche sperimentali di ricerca in psicologia | Piccin | 1995 |
The aim of the exam is to assess the knowledge acquired by the students during the course, as well as their ability to make inferences and connections about the different topics discussed during the course.
The exam will be in the form of a written examination with open questions. Oral examination to integrate the score is allowed but not mandatory.
The exam will cover the lectures (including demonstrations and video). Suggested books serve to help the student to have a deeper understanding of the topic and, for non-attending students, to better follow the lectures’ contents.
The exam will be the same for attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the teacher to receive help following the program and arrange the examination.
The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths.
All lectures can be found at the e-learning page linked to this course.