Neuropsychology

Teacher(s)

Pesenti Mauro;

Language

French

Content

The course is an introduction to basic concepts of contemporary neuropsychology. It aims to present the theoretical and methodological bases of neuropsychological practice as well as the major brain damages and diseases, through case studies and video documents. It presents (i) the main brain damages and diseases impairing cognitive functions, (ii) the neuropsychological models of the most frequently impaired cognitive functions (e.g., attention, memory, visual processing, language or executive functions), and (iii) the diagnostic procedures assessing behavioural and cognitive impairments in brain-damaged patients.
   At the end of this course, the student will be able to understand the impairments of behaviour and cognition resulting from brain damage in human beings, and to propose a brief diagnosis of behavioural and cognitive deficits consecutive to brain lesions, taking into account behavioural and neurofunctional data.

Evaluation methods

The assessment is made by a written exam including:

• open-ended questions with short answers (definition of terms/concepts, etc.; answers expected in a few words, maximum 1 sentence);
• open-ended reflection and argument questions with long answers (between 1/4 page and 2 pages per (sub)question).

Students are notified early in the course of the assessment methods, that are recalled at the end of the semester. Some examples of possible questions are presented in class and/or available on Moodle.
The course is not subject to ongoing evaluation.

Other information

The following courses give important bases to understand the content of the present course:

• LPSP1001 : Psychologie générale: processus et théories
• LPSP1005 : Biologie générale, y compris éléments de génétique humaine
• LPSP1006 : Physiologie humaine, y compris éléments de neurophysiologie
• LPSP1207 : Introduction aux neurosciences cognitives

The course is given in French, in an “English-friendly” format:

• communication with the teacher can be done in English;
• slides and supports will be written in French, recommended readings will be in French and English;
• the exam will be written in French; the use of a dictionnary will be allowed. International students are given the opportunity to answer their exam in another language (other possible languages: English or Italian) if they do not feel themselves fluent enough in French. Please note that this possibility requires a formal agreement BEFORE the exam session starts; contact Mauro Pesenti <mauro.pesenti@uclouvain.be> in due time.

Online resources

The course material consists of

• the slides presented in the course, available on Moodle;
• summary chapters from books in French and English. For some chapters of the course, compiled notes are also made available to students on Moodle. Each chapter is accompanied by a list of references including (1) all explicitly cited studies, (2) recommended readings, and (3) when possible, some websites allowing students to deepen their knowledge in an interactive way.

Information material and some exercices or examples of exam questions are also made available on Moodle as the course progresses.

Bibliography

Des ouvrages de référence de base sont présents en bibliothèque de Psychologie; les ouvrages suivants sont recommandés:

• Seron, X. (2002). La neuropsychologie cognitive. (5ème édition). Que sais-je? Paris: PUF.
• Seron, X. & Van der Linden, M. (Eds.) (2000). Traité de neuropsychologie clinique. Marseille: Solal.
  ou la mise à jour
  Seron, X. & Van der Linden, M. (Eds.) (2014). Traité de neuropsychologie clinique de l'adulte. (2ème édition). Marseille: Solal.
  ou la dernière mise à jour
  Amieva, H., Azouvi, P., Barbeau, E., & Collette, E. (Eds.) (2023). Traité de neuropsychologie clinique de l'adulte. (3ème édition). Marseille: Solal.

Faculty or entity

> EPSY