Learning objectives
1. Knowledge and ability to understand. Students will have to achieve a good knowledge of the research fields and the study tools of psychophysiology.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Students must be able to use the theoretical knowledge acquired especially in the analysis of scientific literature, and in the ability to work in a psychophysiological laboratory.
3. Autonomy of judgment. Students will have to develop critical skills on methodological problems and on the relationships between specific theoretical positions and recent empirical results.
4. Communication skills. Students will need to acquire the ability to critically discuss literature in the context of emotions and cognitive processes.
5. Learning skills. Students should be able to learn the new theoretical paradigms and innovative techniques of investigation resulting from a psychophysiological approach.
Prerequisites
Basics of anatomo-physiology of the central and autonomic nervous system; basics of General Psychology; basics of methodology of research in Psychology.
Course unit content
The psychophysiological research: background and definitions.
. Recording and processing of the EEG signal: evoked potentials (ERPs) and brain oscillations (ERD, ERS)
. How to use ERPs in cognitive sciences (e.g., perception, attention, face processing, memory, language, decision-making)
. Psychophysiology of orienting
. Psychophysiology of emotion: Theories and methods
. Psychophysiological indices of emotional response: Relationships between subjective, behavioral and physiological responses
. The startle reflex and emotion
. The psychophysiological approach to the study of the relationship between cognitive processes (attention and memory) and emotion
. Clinical psychophysiology: limitations and advantages
Full programme
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Bibliography
Pennisi, P., Sarlo M., Indici Elettrofisiologici in Psicologia. Padova: CLEUP Editrice, 1998.
Materiale fornito dal docente.
Teaching methods
The course includes theoretical lessons, discussion of scientific articles, film projections and practical experiences of biosignal (EEG) recordings in a laboratory context.
Assessment methods and criteria
written exam with open questions. The student is also required to select two scientific articles and provide a brief summery of the manuscripts which will be evaluated by the teacher. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to present orally one of the two papers, and this presentation will be considered part of the final evaluation.
Other information
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