Learning objectives
Psychobiological framing of issues related to food, nutrition and stress
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
Psychobiological approach to nutrition and stress
Full programme
I) Physiology of eating behavior
Feeding and Nutrition. Introduction to Biochemistry. Nutrients:
Macronutrients, Micronutrients and Water. Anatomy and physiology of
the digestive system. Digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Bioenergetics. Malnutrition in excess and defect. Clinical Nutrition.
II) Introduction to Psychobiology and Psychophysiology
Psychobiology and its relations with other Neuroscience. Introduction to
Anatomy of the nervous system. The development of the nervous
system. Nerve conduction and synaptic transmission. The endocrine and
neuroendocrine system: anatomy and physiology.
III) Psychobiology of eating behavior
Why do we eat?, Neurondocrin regulation of eating behavior. The
Hypothalamus enteric axys. Neurotransmitters and hormones regulating
energy balance. Hunger, appetite and satiety. The specific sense of
satiety. The limbic system and the hedonistic component of feeding.
Influence of serotonin on eating behavior and mood. The hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axys, stress and its involvement in eating behavior.
Socio-cultural influences on eating behavior. Overview of genetics of
eating behavior. The eating disorders.
Bibliography
Pinel (2007) “Psicobiologia” Introdution and chapters 1, 2 and 3. Ed Il
Mulino - Bologna
Innocenti A (2013) “Principi di nutrizione umana” Ed Esculapio - Bologna
Innocenti A e Pruneti C (2012) “Principi di Psicobiologia della Nutrizione e
dello Stress ” Ed Esculapio - Bologna
Teaching methods
Lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral Examinations
Other information
None
