Brain and cognition
A.A. 2023/2024
Obiettivi formativi
Provide knowledge in the domains of computational psychology and cognitive neuroscience. This course will serve as a bridge between cognitive-neuropsychological approaches to brain functioning and the more technically-oriented classes
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding
This course provides a strong background in computational psychology and systems-level neuroscience and allows students to develop integrative research interests that cross domains.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will gain a thorough critical understanding of the intellectual debates that drive these rapidly growing fields, as well as expertise in the major methods for research on higher functions, both at the cognitive and the neurobiological level. They will also learn how to define simple cognitive models.
This course provides a strong background in computational psychology and systems-level neuroscience and allows students to develop integrative research interests that cross domains.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will gain a thorough critical understanding of the intellectual debates that drive these rapidly growing fields, as well as expertise in the major methods for research on higher functions, both at the cognitive and the neurobiological level. They will also learn how to define simple cognitive models.
Periodo: Primo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Periodo
Primo semestre
Programma
MODULE 1: Computational psychology: The class will introduce psychological sciences to the students, and present the computational methods applied since the 50s for the purpose of investigating human behavior and the cognitive system. The main computational paradigms in cognitive modelling will be discussed, as well as the related theoretical debates.
MODULE 2: Cognitive neuroscience: basics and interpretation of neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods for investigating cognition; brain representation of neuropsychological functions underpinning sensory-motor processes, from the integration of multiple sensory afference to the construction of motor programs and the implementation of motor control and the awareness of actions and motor outcomes. Furthermore, an overview will be provided of neuropsychological processes underpinning attention, memory and learning.
TOPICS:
Module 1
1. Psychological science
2. The computational method in psychology: epistemological and historical overview
3. Marr's levels of analysis
4. Validating a cognitive model: performance, plausibility, parsimony
5. The computationalist perspective
6. Connectionism
7. Cognitive architectures
8. Bayesian models
9. Dynamical systems
Module 2
1. Neuroscientific methods to investigate cognition
2. The brain and the self: Body Ownership, embodiment, agency for the self and for embodied agents
3. Principles of Sensory/motor integration in the brain
4. Motor and affective imitation in the brain (from mirror neurons to mirror systems to empathy)
5. Attention
6. Memory and learning in the brain.
MODULE 2: Cognitive neuroscience: basics and interpretation of neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods for investigating cognition; brain representation of neuropsychological functions underpinning sensory-motor processes, from the integration of multiple sensory afference to the construction of motor programs and the implementation of motor control and the awareness of actions and motor outcomes. Furthermore, an overview will be provided of neuropsychological processes underpinning attention, memory and learning.
TOPICS:
Module 1
1. Psychological science
2. The computational method in psychology: epistemological and historical overview
3. Marr's levels of analysis
4. Validating a cognitive model: performance, plausibility, parsimony
5. The computationalist perspective
6. Connectionism
7. Cognitive architectures
8. Bayesian models
9. Dynamical systems
Module 2
1. Neuroscientific methods to investigate cognition
2. The brain and the self: Body Ownership, embodiment, agency for the self and for embodied agents
3. Principles of Sensory/motor integration in the brain
4. Motor and affective imitation in the brain (from mirror neurons to mirror systems to empathy)
5. Attention
6. Memory and learning in the brain.
Prerequisiti
This course requires a basic knowledge of cognitive psychology and the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.
Metodi didattici
The course will consist of frontal lessons, classwork, discussion on scientific papers, and practical exercises. All course material (e.g., slides, readings, scripts) will be made available on the e-learning website of the course, so that also non-attending students can use it.
Materiale di riferimento
TBD
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
A written exam consisting of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions on the course topics.
1) The exam will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and 2 brief essays covering all the topics of the course.
a. Multiple choice questions will be graded 1 if correct and 0 if incorrect. If 18 or more is obtained, students will be able to access the brief essays.
b. The two brief essays will be evaluated 0-30, which will be the final grade.
2) For those students who request it, or if the teacher considers it necessary, an oral interview can be arranged: the mark obtained in the oral test will be averaged with that obtained in the written test. The evaluation criteria are: the correctness of the answers, the ability to argue, synthesize, create links, and critically discuss the course topics.
1) The exam will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and 2 brief essays covering all the topics of the course.
a. Multiple choice questions will be graded 1 if correct and 0 if incorrect. If 18 or more is obtained, students will be able to access the brief essays.
b. The two brief essays will be evaluated 0-30, which will be the final grade.
2) For those students who request it, or if the teacher considers it necessary, an oral interview can be arranged: the mark obtained in the oral test will be averaged with that obtained in the written test. The evaluation criteria are: the correctness of the answers, the ability to argue, synthesize, create links, and critically discuss the course topics.
M-PSI/02 - PSICOBIOLOGIA E PSICOLOGIA FISIOLOGICA - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 48 ore
Docenti:
Marelli Marco, Pisoni Alberto
Siti didattici