Neuropsychology

The thematic cores for the first year of the programme are as follows:

• Anatomical and functional organization of the CNS; Neuroplasticity
• Principles of Human Genetics
• Relationship between the mind and brain and recent theories of cognition
• Psychometric theories, neuropsychological tests
• Basic principles of physiological psychology; psychophysiology of learning and memory; Development and organization of communication (language and pragmatics of communication)
• Clinical evaluation in neurology; focal brain lesions (cerebrovascular diseases); Trauma; epilepsy; Diagnostic Tools
• General and descriptive psychopathology; introduction to the diagnostic assessment and the conduct of the clinical interview; diagnostic framework and psychotherapeutic approach to anxiety and mood disorders;
• The neuropsychological interview. Clinical (epidemiology, etiopathogenesis) and cognitive (modelling) framework of memory and language disorders including reading and writing disorders; computational disorders (amnesia, aphasia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, acalculia); Planning of rehabilitation intervention
• Psychiatric classification: classification of mood disorders; behavioral manifestations in brain damage; differential diagnosis between "primary" and "secondary" forms of organic brain pathology; Post-stroke depression
• Data Collection and Organization for Clinical Research
• Introduction to the Philosophy of Language

Breakdown of the courses of the first year according to the groupings:

Articulation of the courses of the first year according to the scientific-disciplinary sectors:

Distribution of hours in the different teaching modalities for the first year

The thematic cores for the second year of the course are as follows:

• Physiological bases of cognitive and emotional-motivational processes
• Genetic Basis of Behavior and Cognitive Disorders
• Introduction to computer applications for data management and processing
• Neurotransmitter systems in neurology and psychiatry; Drug Interactions
• Historical development of the clinical approach and theoretical modelling of cognitive phenomena
• General Introduction to Psychology for Healthcare Organizations; Participatory Medicine: Professional Identity and the Role of Health Professionals
• Psychophysiological approach to the sciences of ethics, aesthetics, law, economics, education.
• Neurophysiological and psychophysiological techniques (electroencephalogram-EEG, magnetoencephalogram-MEG, spectroscopy; evoked potentials; transcranial magnetic stimulation; non-invasive brain stimulation)
• Clinic of neurodegenerative diseases (dementias, movement disorders: Parkinson's and parkinsonisms; motor neuron diseases), inflammatory (multiple sclerosis, paraneoplastic syndromes), infectious (encephalitis and meningitis) and metabolic diseases of the CNS; Diagnostic Tools
• Clinic of Personality Disorders and Psychotic Disorders; Clinical Interventions in Patients With Anxiety and Mood Disorders
• General principles of rehabilitation in neuropsychology
• Clinical (epidemiology, etiopathogenesis) and cognitive (modelling) framework of attention, executive functions and working memory disorders; planning of rehabilitation intervention; Rehabilitation of head trauma patients
• Psychiatric classification: classification of psychotic disorders; psychotic manifestations and conduct disorders; differential diagnosis between "primary" and "secondary" forms of organic brain pathology
• Neurodevelopmental diseases: pervasive disorders, intellectual disability; Childhood epilepsy
• Introduction to the application of the English language to the analysis of scientific literature

Structure of the second year courses on the basis of groupings:

Articulation of the second year courses according to the scientific-disciplinary sectors:

Distribution of hours in the different teaching modalities for the second year

The thematic cores for the third year of the course are as follows:

• Effects of individual-social group interaction on developmental and affective functioning in adulthood.
• Recent theories of dynamic imprint. Relationship between psychoanalysis and neuroscience
• Developmental neuropsychology: learning processes, implications for teaching and education
• Disorders of perception and recognition (agnosias) and cognitive aspects of movement (apraxias); Diagnostic framework and planning of rehabilitation intervention
• Psychotherapeutic Intervention in Psychosis
• CNS investigation neuroimaging techniques (CT, MRI, fMRI, SPECT, PET, DAT-scan)
• Specific learning disability
• Neoplastic pathology, malformations and cerebral hemorrhages: diagnostic process and cognitive characteristics
• Integrated rehabilitation approach to the patient with focal brain injury (treatment of cognitive disorders; motor rehabilitation; new technologies; neurostimulation techniques); Rehabilitation of the patient with cognitive impairment
• Clinic of internal pathologies related to cognitive deficits; acute confusion
• Introduction to computer applications for the development and administration of neuropsychological tests (E-Prime, Psychopy, OpenSesame)
• The neuropsychological patient in a multicultural and multilingual society: diagnostic and rehabilitative issues
• Introduction to Logic and Philosophy of Science
• Ethics and deontology of the neuropsychologist: individual responsibility; informed consent; Capacity assessment.
• Organisation of the environment and human health
• Technological devices for rehabilitation

Articulation of the third-year courses on the basis of groupings:

Articulation of the courses of the third year according to the scientific-disciplinary sectors:

 Distribution of hours in the different teaching modalities for the third year

The thematic cores for the fourth year of the programme are as follows:

• Developmental Neuropsychology, Learning Theories
• Social cognition deficits in adulthood: clinical (epidemiology, etiopathogenesis) and cognitive (modelling) framework; neuropsychological assessment tools; effects on legal capacity. "Organic" learning disorders: diagnosis and rehabilitation
• Planning of psychotherapeutic interventions, both individual and group and community, aimed at the recovery of psychosocial well-being by the neuropsychological patient
• Innovative approaches to the treatment of CNS neoplastic diseases: neuroradiological and neuropsychological techniques for evaluation and monitoring in patients undergoing awake surgery
• Structure and organization of health facilities: from the outpatient clinic to the hospital
• organization of "remote" clinical management; telemedicine
• Introduction to the drafting of research projects, reports and scientific articles. in English
• Elements of Private Law and Public Law

Structure of the courses of the fourth year on the basis of the groupings:

 Structure of the courses of the fourth year according to the scientific-disciplinary sectors:

Distribution of hours in the different teaching modalities for the fourth year

The frontal teaching activity will have a decreasing hourly weight over the four years of the duration of the School, against a gradual increase in active training activities, so as to allow the resident to progressively acquire autonomy in the application of specific professional skills.

Course syllabus (page being updated)

Professors (page being updated)

General Organization / Calendar

General Organization

The didactic-training activity will be organized in a flexible way on the basis of the characteristics of the teachings and the logistical needs related to the professionalizing activities, which will be carried out in a significant proportion at complex clinical structures (clinics, hospitals and university polyclinics, and possibly territorial structures).  There will be cycles of lessons concentrated on certain days of the week, for a total of 10-11 weeks for the first three years, and 5 weeks for the fourth year.

The cycles of lectures will be alternated with professional activities in order to ensure continuity and congruence between teaching and clinical application.

Frontal teaching activities will be delivered both in presence and remotely; the venue of the lessons is Milan; some lectures will be delivered from the Rome campus of Università Cattolica, with the aim  of reducing the need for professors and postgraduate students to travel. However, lessons will be delivered synchronously in the classrooms (with classroom tutors) made available both in Milan and in Rome.

Participation "remotely" outside the classrooms will eventually be allowed, at the request of the student and with the authorization of the  School Council, for proven individual needs.