Study

Dear students, 

 We are glad to invite you to our course on neuropsychology, which will help you delve into the fascinating world of the human brain and its connection with mental functions. The course consists of 17 meetings and is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical foundations of neuropsychology and their practical application. During the course, you will: 

 - get to know the subject and objectives of neuropsychology as a science; 

- learn about the significance of neuropsychology for solving

-methodological and theoretical problems in psychological science; study the problem of brain organization of higher mental functions; 

- get acquainted with the basic principles of brain structure; explore the problems of cerebral hemispheric asymmetry and their interaction; 

- learn about sensory and gnostic disorders of various systems (visual, somatosensory, auditory) and their manifestations (agnosias); 

- get to know the disorders of voluntary movements and actions (apraxia), as well as disorders of voluntary regulation of behavior; 

- study speech disorders, disorders of attention and memory, thinking and emotionally

-personal sphere that arise due to local brain lesions; 

- learn about the problems of forming educational skills in primary school age due to delayed 

-maturation of brain structures; get acquainted with methods and techniques for correcting mental functions. 

The course combines theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which will allow you to apply the acquired knowledge in various fields of psychology and neurology. I look forward to seeing you in our course and are sure that it will be an interesting and useful experience for you!

The course «Age-related psychophysiology» covers a wide range of topics, starting with an introduction to the science and ending with the study of age-related changes in the functioning of the nervous system.

The first topic is an introduction to age-related psychophysiology and the basics of the science. Here, the definition of age-related psychophysiology is given, the multi-level approach to studying a person (molecular, cellular, organism level) is explained. The basics of ontogenesis and age-related periodization are also studied: the stages of ontogenesis (prenatal and postnatal) are considered, the division of the prenatal stage into embryonic and fetal periods, a detailed age-related periodization of postnatal development (from newborn to long-lived) and criteria for age-related periodization (bone, dental age, level of sexual maturation).

The second topic is devoted to the laws of ontogenesis and the maturation of the organism. It explains the principle of heterochrony of development, examines the criteria for the maturation of the nervous system (formation of the myelin sheath, achieving a certain size and number of processes by nerve cells, achieving brain structures of sizes characteristic of a particular stage of development), uneven myelination of nerve fibers and the use of EEG and other methods to assess functional maturation.

The third topic describes methods of research in age-related psychophysiology. It provides a detailed analysis of methods such as EEG (electroencephalography), MEG (magnetoencephalography), PET (positron emission tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), GSR (galvanic skin response), oculography, as well as methods of studying development: the method of cross-sections, longitudinal studies (method of individual tracing), differential-diagnostic empirical research.

The fourth topic covers the structure and functions of the nervous system, as well as the development of the nervous system in a child. It examines the general structure of the nervous system (CNS — central nervous system and PNS — peripheral nervous system), the structure and functions of the brain (brain sections, functions of various parts), the structure and functions of the spinal cord, neurons and synapses, the role of glial cells, the autonomic nervous system and its sections (sympathetic, parasympathetic, metasympathetic), stages of brain development, reflexes in a newborn, the development of speech and thinking in a child, stages of the development of motor activity in an infant, the development of perception and thinking.

The fifth topic is devoted to psychophysiological development at different age periods and age-related changes in the functioning of the nervous system. Within the framework of this topic, cognitive processes in children aged 3–7 years are studied (perception and motor activity, visual perception, attention and memory, the role of play activity, speech development, emotional and motivational development), psychophysiological development of a child aged 7–11 years (physical development, metabolism and physiological functions, development of motor skills and coordination, development of perception and thinking, development of attention and memory, speech and intellectual development), psychophysiology of adolescence (12–16 years) (physiological and hormonal changes, changes in brain activity, cognitive development, emotional and social development, development of attention and memory, social and personal development), psychophysiology of youth (transition to youth, development of the brain and cognitive functions, development of thinking and intelligence, emotional and personal development) and age-related changes in the functioning of the nervous system and their consequences (changes in brain function, changes in the autonomic nervous system, changes in the endocrine system, changes in EEG, changes in mnemonic activity and thinking, psychological changes, pathological changes and diseases).

What is gerontopsychology coursea bout? 

This is our next course related with psychophysiology. 

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the psychological aspects ofaging, focusing on the definition of age limits and the periodization of oldage. 

You will gain an understanding of the biological, psychological, andsocial changes that occur during the aging process, as well as the challengesand opportunities that old age presents. 

The course examines varioustheoretical approaches to aging and considers the role of life experience andpersonal development in late adulthood.