Learning objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding. Functioning of cognitive, emotional and motivational processes as base of patients’ behavior and within health context. Fetal and neonatal development, neurological plasticity. Verbal and non-verbal communication.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Students will be able to apply the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in dealing with medical-surgery issues in interdisciplinary contexts. Students will be able to interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous and professional manner. They must be able to function effectively under stress avoiding errors.
3. Independence of judgment. Students will develop critical thinking skills and independent judgment. They will be able assess patients’ compliance knowing how to orient the attitudes and motivations toward appropriate clinical choices.
4. 4. Communication skills. Students will be able to communicate effectively with patients, their families, and members of the health care team. They will be able to interpret non-verbal aspects of communication, establish therapeutic relationships with patients and to recognize and regulate cognitive and emotional processes associated with reactions to stress and pain in medicine and surgery.
5. Learning ability. Students will be able to contribute to collaborative learning environments, accepting constructive feedback from others and taking personal responsibility. Students will be able to organize the work of a professional team by updating from reliable sources.
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
Main methods and paradigms of research in neuroscience. Cortical representation of pain and modulation. Learning: the paradigms and the conditioning of responses. Fetal development and neuronal plasticity.
Memory systems. Emotions and communication. Stress and burnout in health context.
Full programme
Methods of investigation in neurosciences.
Cortical representation of pain. Anticipation and empathy in the perception of pain. Pain modulation. Assessment tools of pain
Learning. The paradigms of respondent conditioning and operant conditioning. Systematic desensitization.
Prenatal experience and neural plasticity. Fetal learning and memory.
Non-verbal communication: facial expressions, eye contact, posture. Understanding and communication of emotions.
Psychological impact of the disease the medical professional.
Stress and burn-out.
Bibliography
For studying:
Slides of the lessons and the following scientific papers:
1. Glynn, L.M. & Sandman, C.A. (2011). Prenatal origins of neurological development: A critical period for fetus and mother. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20, 384-389
doi: 10.1177/0963721411422056.
2. Moon, C., Lagercrantz, H. Kuhl, P.K. (2013). Language experienced in utero affects vowel perception after birth: a two-country study. Acta Pædiatrica, 102, 156-160. doi: 10.1111/apa.12098.
3. Maas, A.J.B.M. Et al. (2012). “Expectant Parents”: Study protocol of a longitudinal study concerning prenatal (risk) factors and postnatal infant development, parenting, and parent-infant relationships. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 12, 46 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/12/46.
Teaching methods
The course takes place mainly by means of lectures that will cover the main contents with references to theoretical models, and applied aspects of the discipline. Video demo may accompany the lessons as well as practical exercises to facilitate the active involvement.
Assessment methods and criteria
The oral examination will ascertain the attainment of the objectives of the course. Any questions tend to check whether the student has attained a solid foundation of knowledge and a deep understanding of what was discussed. The final evaluation will be derived from the accuracy levels achieved for each training goal corresponding to 6 classes of evaluation (A to F).
Other information
- - -
