Raffaella I. Rumiati, SISSA office 341, rumiati@sissa.it, https://insula.sissa.it

The course will be held in presence (SISSA, room 139)

Description

This advanced course offers an in-depth exploration of core concepts and contemporary issues in cognitive neuroscience, with a focus on the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive functions. Emphasizing less commonly discussed interactions between cognitive domains—such as perception, action, memory, and language—the course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of specific and shared cognitive phenomena. Through an examination of cutting-edge research, it explores methodological approaches, including neuropsychology, neuroimaging, electrophysiological techniques (like EEG), and neurostimulation methods (such as TMS and tDCS). Students will also learn how these approaches contribute to our understanding of both healthy and disordered brain function, with implications for clinical and therapeutic applications.

Brief lists of topics:

• The relationship between perception and action will be discussed by examining the neural mechanisms that integrate perception and motor control, as well as their relative independence. We will draw on psychological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging evidence to explore these concepts.
• We will explore the neural mechanisms underlying mental rotation and spatial cognition, focusing on how we visualize and manipulate objects in space. This will involve reviewing evidence from cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and behavioral studies.
• We will examine how perception and action contribute to language comprehension and production, with a focus on the role of mental rotation. We will identify the conditions under which these cognitive processes overlap and assess the necessity of mental rotation in language processing.
• The concepts of brain plasticity and cognitive reserve will be presented. We will delve into the mechanisms underlying plasticity, its role in recovery from injury, and how cognitive reserve—acquired through education, engagement, and lifestyle—can help buffer against cognitive decline. Insights from neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies will be integrated to illustrate these concepts.
• We will evaluate theories of intelligence and the questions surrounding IQ and intelligence testing. Our analysis will include psychological, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological evidence to explore the cognitive processes and neural correlates of intelligence, providing insights into its nature and assessment.
• We will review the literature on factors that influence cognitive competencies, including personality traits, family background, social class, and gender. The discussion will focus on how these elements interact to shape cognitive performance, drawing on research from psychology and neuroimaging to highlight the complexities of cognitive competence across various contexts.

Course Evaluation

How. It will consist in presenting a critical view on one of the topics of the course.

When. To be held in December.