Learning objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms underlying the human neural control of behavioral, autonomic and emotional responses to sensory stimuli.
2. Theoretical and technical competence for (i) evaluating the nervous system modulatory action on the different functions characterizing a complex living organism, and (ii) analyzing the mechanisms underlying the alterations in the nervous system control.
3. Capacity of describing clearly and with appropriate terminology the mechanisms of the nervous system control.
4. Ability to plan an experiment for measuring the nervous system activity
and interpreting the results critically (individually and in groups).
Prerequisites
General Physiology, Histology and Human Anatomy
Course unit content
- Organization of the human nervous system.
- Sensory systems
- cerebral cortex (structure and function)
- motor system (spinal and central control of the movement)
- autonomic nervous system and its central control
Full programme
1. Organization of the human nervous system
2. Neuron action potential: ionic origin, propagation and synaptic transmission
3. Sensory systems: sensory receptors, transduction mechanisms and coding process; afferent pathways.
- somatosensory system
- auditory and vestibular systems
- visual system
- chemical sensory systems (olfactory and taste)
4. Cerebral cortex: primary sensory areas, association areas, motor areas
5. Motor system and organization of motor function (spinal and central control)
6. Autonomic Nervous System: sympathetic and parasympathetic peripheral control, central control.
Bibliography
1. Dee Unglaub Silverthorn:Fisiologia
umana. Un approccio integrato. Pearson Italia S.p.A. (Last Edition)
2. Robert M. Berne e Matthew N. Levy: FISIOLOGIA - Casa Editrice
Ambrosiana - (last edition)
3. Carbone E, Aicardi G, Maggi R: Fisiologia: dalle molecole ai sistemi
integrati - EdiSES (II Edition-2018)
4. Widmaier EP, Raff H, Strang KT: Vander Fisiologia - Casa editrice
Ambrosiana (II edition-2018)
Teaching methods
Lectures: Lessons on the basic functional properties of the human nervous system.
One CFU will be used to provide methodological knowledge for measuring the functional efficiency of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Lecture contents will be available in the website of the course together with self-evaluation tests (PDF files).
Assessment methods and criteria
The final evaluation will be carried out by means of a written test lasting 2
hours. The written test will consist of one open question on a specific
topic of the course and 2 multiple-choice tests. To pass the exam the student must achieve a sufficient evaluation in the first open question.
The final evaluation will be made on the basis of the criteria described
below:
(a) Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topic and mastery of specific terminology. Excellent capacity to apply knowledge. Vote: 30/30 with praise.
b) Good knowledge and understanding of the subject. Good ability to apply knowledge. Mastery of terminology (27-29).
c) Discreet knowledge and understanding of the topic. Capacity to apply knowledge. Discreet mastery of specific terminology (24-26).
(d) Fully sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topic. Discreet capacity to apply knowledge (20-23).
(e) Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topic with
lacunae. Low capacity of application of knowledge and poor mastery of terminology (18-19).
Other information
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