Master of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience

The English degree promotes advanced knowledge of cognitive functions’ interpretative models as well as their changes in the life span. The biological basis of behavior in typical and atypical development will also be covered. International diagnostic instruments for the evaluation of cognitive impairments are discussed. This master course highlights the role of the cultural and linguistic environment in interaction with cognitive processing in determining behavioral phenomenology. At the end of this Master, students will be able to perform a cognitive evaluation and define an effective intervention in diverse social environments.

Learning outcomes

Educational goals

The course intends to supply the tools needed to understand the basic mechanisms of normal and pathological behaviours by learning about neural correlates and cognitive functioning (84 ECTS). The Programme takes into consideration a wide range of cognitive abilities, analysing, with an integrated approach, the factors influencing them. The main educational goal is to consider the current knowledge on the cognitive functions and the neural mechanisms, contextualising them in their application as early evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention, and supplying the tools typical of an empirical approach. The final goal is to train highly prepared psychologists at a national and international level, able to adapt their competencies/knowledge to the variables required by the market.

The first year is mainly dedicated to the acquisition of theoretical and methodological competencies for research, clinical, and application work of cognitive neuroscience. First-year courses are aimed at supplying all students with advanced knowledge on aspects connected to psychological and cognitive intervention within acquired and developmental cognitive disorders. During the course, will be examined the characteristics of cognitive functions in their normal and pathological developmental aspect, taking into consideration the behavioural and neurofunctional aspects of cognitive disorders resulting from cerebral lesions, and the main techniques of research and data analysis, both by considering themes connected to the advanced statistics and using neuropsychological and neurobiological researches. Some courses will be dedicated to the acquisition of theoretical-methodological competencies within psychophysiology, neuropsychology, cognitive science, and methodology of analysis (30 ECTS). Others will consider themes related to the personologic aspects regulating social interaction and individual development, to the characteristics of cognitive processes defining the interaction with the environment, and to emotional aspects and their evolution in a lifespan (21 ECTS).

The second year's goal is to supply tools and specific competencies connected to the diagnosis and intervention of acquired and developed cognitive disorders. In this view, students will be supplied with knowledge related to the use of psychophysiological techniques to evaluate the neural correlates of cognitive disorders. Students will consider themes connected to normal and pathological development, with a special reference to learning disorders. The course will also supply competencies about the clinical relationship with the patient aimed at making him/her aware of the need for a diagnostic intervention of rehabilitation. In the alternative, students can choose to examine in depth the theme of developmental cognitive disorders. The second year is organised in such a way as to offer advanced courses, especially in the first semester, so that students can complete their final test (18 ECTS).

Students can also choose to examine in-depth (12 ECTS) evaluation aspects, to acquire knowledge on artificial intelligence and computer science or history/literature, by attending the English courses at our University. Foreign students can use a part of their credits (6 ECTS) to acquire further knowledge in Italian obtaining a level B2.

The Programme has as an educational goal the curricular internship (6 ECTS) in public companies, where it is dedicated a wide space to practical supervised activity in professionalising workshops, in structures and institutions having agreements with the Department (Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia).

As for the time used for individual study, please consult the course's Rules.

Big and medium companies, public administration, public/private research institutions, and public and private institutions appointed to protect health, such as schools, hospitals, and public administration. Opportunities Regarding the Pursuit of Further Education To access specialization schools that qualify for registration into the psychotherapists' register, with a preparation suitable to pass the selection for specialization schools in the neuropsychological and cognitive-behavioral areas. To access the training that prepares for research activity in the following areas: neuropsychology; cognitive neuroscience; psychobiology; and psychophysiology.