Psychology

This course provides a comprehensive overview of emotions research, how this produces feelings of stress and how these concepts relate to some of the most common mental disorders - depression and anxiety disorders. Students will learn about psychology as a science and how psychological research is performed (including animal and human studies). Throughout the course we will examine how the findings from this research informs the clinical description of disorders and the treatment of anxiety, stress and low mood.

The human voice is a highly flexible tool for communication with others. The course familiarizes students with the main concepts underpinning the psychological processing of the human voice, and to introduce them to research on the perception and expression of speech, emotions, and identity. The content covered ranges from basic articulatory and acoustic properties of verbal and nonverbal vocal behavior (e.g. speech, laughter), to social and cognitive aspects of voice processing (e.g. identity recognition, evaluation of personality traits), and the neural underpinnings of human voice processing.

This course examines the psychology of dementia focusing on the cognitive and psychosocial impact on individuals with a diagnosis and those who care for them. Students examine patterns of both lost and retained cognitive skills in people with dementia. Students focus on how retained skills can be maximized, and how the caregiving experience can be improved for both people living with dementia and their caregivers. 

Researchers often overlook the environmental impact of cutting edge research; however, there is growing awareness that environmental sustainability needs to be embedded into all aspects of scientific research, and that all scientific communities need to take action to preserve our planet. This interdisciplinary course meets this challenge head on. Students review scientific benefits of state-of-the-art research methods in psychology and neuroscience, while also discussing methods for assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of these activities. Students evaluate research methods such as lab work with animals and people, scientific imaging, field work, and AI and data sciences. In the context of these methodologies, students discuss the practical and ethical dimensions revolving around emerging sustainability assessment and mitigation methods both inside and outside the University.

This course surveys the paradoxical (sometimes productive) neuro-psychological phenomena that can be observed after lesions of the central or peripheral nervous system, or by non-invasive (transcranial) brain stimulation. These phenomena contrast with the more common functional deficits of brain lesions or brain stimulation, and are used as windows to detail current concepts in cognitive neuroscience, brain plasticity, and rehabilitation. Each lecture begins with case descriptions of patients with paradoxical (sometimes productive) effects of stimulation/lesions on behavior. Examples include hyper-attention; an anarchic hand; the experience of leaving one's own body; or the integration of phantom limbs into one's own body scheme. The lectures explore how these phenomena fit or inform models of cognitive processes and plasticity in different domains (e.g. attention, motor control, interhemispheric interactions, multisensory integration) and point to implications for neurorehabilitation. 

This course considers specific cognitive functions and properties of the human mind. The material covers perception, attentional processes, language and knowledge representation, memory mechanisms, problem-solving and expertise, and the relationships and links between processes. Studies from classical and modern cognitive psychology are provided throughout.

The course develops an understanding of visual perception and its functions. Focus is on the integration of findings from physiology, neuropsychology, anatomy, and experimental psychology. Topic areas include theories of human vision and their application to understanding our ability to perceive distinct visual properties, for example the shape, size, location, and identity of objects. 

TBA

The course provides foundational knowledge of adult psychopathology, clinical psychology, and clinical interviewing, with a specific focus on a set of practical issues, such as the impact of cultural differences, the development of key intrapersonal skills (e.g. perspective taking, mindfulness, epoché, empathy) and interpersonal skills (e.g. communication strategies, setting, interventions and techniques). The course introduces the concepts of culture and identity, nomality, deviance and psychopathology through the framework of social constructionist theory. During the whole course, in-depth analysis of various topics may vary according to students' requests and previous knowledge. Classes consist of traditional lectures as well as interactive and student-centered activities aimed to foster an active learning process, such as group work, class debates, role play, and presentations.

This course focuses on developing a deep understanding of how culture influences individual cognition, emotions, and behavior, and analyzes psychological differences between groups and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The course explores how human behavior and thinking are shaped and changed within cultural contexts. 

Main topics in the first half: Understanding theoretical foundations include cultural values and beliefs, cognitive psychology and culture, cultural identity, and polarization and cultural psychology. Main topics in the second half: Understanding practical phenomena and finding solutions include culture of effort worship, face-saving culture, lookism culture, hierarchical culture, and other-oriented culture.