Psychology of typical and atypical development

Knowledge and understanding: The course will provide students with a solid knowledge base on the fundamental and historical principles of neuropsychology, i.e., the study of the cognitive effects of brain injury to understand the functional structure of the mind, as well as its specific diagnostic and rehabilitation purposes. Students will learn in- depth about the main cognitive and emotional-motivational deficits caused by brain injuries or dysfunctions, including their clinical features, diagnostic modalities and the main interpretative models adopted. In addition, they will have the opportunity to learn about research methodologies and assessment and intervention tools. Applied knowledge and understanding Students will acquire the necessary skills to extrapolate relevant information from anamnestic information and observation of the behaviour of patients with cognitive disorders caused by brain injury. They will also be able to describe and interpret patient behaviour using appropriate specialist terminology, identify proper diagnostic tools and write brief neuropsychological assessment reports. Autonomy of judgement Students will learn how to judge patient behaviour and make diagnostic choices based on limited information. They will be able to justify their decisions and discuss their limitations critically. Communication skills Students should be able to clearly and specifically summarise the results of behavioural observations and diagnostic tools. Furthermore, they will be able to communicate the results of an evaluation in oral and written form, adapting the communication to the interlocutor's knowledge and the evaluation process's aims. Learning skills Students will develop instrumental and research skills to acquire further knowledge in neuropsychology. They can use targeted literature searches to further the topics covered in the classroom.