Program Overview

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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY - NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AGE

Program Details

• Code: 68381
• Academic Year: 2025/2026
• Credits:
  • 1 cfu anno 2 TERAPIA DELLA NEURO E PSICOMOTRICITA' DELL'ETA' EVOL 9287 (L/SNT2) - GENOVA
• Scientific Disciplinary Sector: M-PSI/08
• Language: Italian
• Teaching Location:
  • GENOVA
• Semester: 2° Semester
• Modules: This teaching is a module of:
  • PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY, PEDOPSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOLOGY

Aims and Content

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The training objectives of this course include:

• Learning the neurobiological maturation processes underlying the development of language
• Understanding the development of language in different components with particular attention to the pragmatic-contextual component
• Learning the basics of understanding and producing language, the relationship between oral language development and learning reading and writing
• Evaluating tools and operating profiles of different functions and specific modules for each single neuropsychological function
• Learning the principles of the evaluation of different language components
• Knowing the functional evaluation of communication disorders and oral and written language, in the evolutionary age
• Understanding the differences between nosographic diagnosis and functional
  europsychological evaluation

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the knowledge of:

• The different functions and modules specific for each neuropsychological function
• The development, organization, and pathology of linguistic functions and their relationship to cognitive functions (perception, memory, attention) and learning of written language
• The assessment of the deficit in different neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular attention to "Developmental Language Disorders" (DLD), specific learning difficulty (SpLD) (Dyslexia, Dysorthographia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia), and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Teaching Methods

The lessons are carried out in an interactive and participatory modality by the students, correlating theoretical experiences with practical applications. Personal narration, class comparison, slides, and relevant videos are used for this purpose.

Syllabus/Content

The course covers:

• Neuropsychology of the development age: Introduction, Methodology
• Language Neuropsychology:
  • Language development in different components with a focus on the pragmatic-contextual component
  • The evaluation of communication and language
  • Developmental Language Disorders: DSM 5 and ICD-10 classification; clinical and neuropsychological language classification
• Attention Neuropsychology:
  • Selectivity and Intensity Dimensions
  • Executive Functions
• Neuropsychology of Memory:
  • Memory development
  • Memory models
• Introduction to Specific Learning Disorders:
  • Dyslexia/Dys spelling/Dysgraphia/Discalculia
  • Nosographic Classification (DSM 5; ICD-10)
  • Evaluation (clinical and functional diagnosis)
• Neuropsychology and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD):
  • Neuropsychological theories: theory of mind, theory of weak central coherence, theory of deficit executive functions
  • Neuropsychology of emotions
  • Sensory perception: tools for evaluating/creating sensory-perceptual profiles
  • Cognitive, neuropsychological, and behavioral evaluation

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• The examination will mainly focus on handouts (Power Point), documents, and articles provided by the teacher.
• Recommended Texts:
  • Vicari S., Caselli MC. (a cura di), "Neuropsicologia dello sviluppo", Il Mulino, Bologna, 2010
• Recommended Reading:
  • Vicari S., Valeri G., Fava L., "L'autismo. Dalla diagnosi al trattamento, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2012
  • Cornoldi C. "Difficoltà e disturbi dell'apprendimento", Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007

Teachers and Exam Board

• Teacher: FRANCESCA MARIA BATTAGLIA
• Exam Board:
  • EUGENIA DUFOUR (President)
  • FRANCESCA MARIA BATTAGLIA
  • ELISA DE GRANDIS
  • SONIA DI PROFIO
  • CHIARA FIORILLO
  • EDVIGE MARIA VENESELLI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

Lessons

• Lessons Start: Second Semester
• Class Schedule: The schedule for CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY - NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL AGE will be provided.

Exams

Exam Description

The preferred modality will be an oral exam, allowing the sharing of study modalities used by the student and clarifying any doubts that emerged during the exam. The exam will start with a student's favorite topic, followed by two other topics at the discretion of the teacher.

Assessment Methods

The assessment will evaluate the ability to navigate the program carried out, practical reasoning, and the ability of central coherence starting from data/examples of cases/clinical situations proposed by the teacher.

Further Information

The examination may not be supported unless the relative propedeucity is respected. As these are integrated course exams, not passing a single discipline involves the repetition of the entire exam.