Fundamentals of Neurology

To provide the basic knowledge needed to understand the anatomical and functional mechanisms that determine the main neurological symptoms, with particular emphasis on symptoms related to deficits in cognitive functions. Provide an understanding of the terms describing major neurological pathologies, with particular emphasis on those that potentially affect higher brain functions.

It is expected that the student will learn the basic elements of neurological semeiotics with particular emphasis on the recognition of the alterations of specific neurological functional systems (e.g., motor, sensory, extra-pyramidal, cerebellar, visual, vestibular, etc.). Particular attention will be put on the recognition of the alterations of cognitive functional systems such as language, visual-spatial abilities, memory, attention, behavior, etc. and on how the recognition, also in the presence of their combination, of the alteration of these systems guides towards the diagnosis of specific neurological diseases and syndromes.

Moreover, it is expected that, through the recognition of the alterations of specific neurological functional systems, the student will learn how to make hypothesis on the possible localization of the lesion that is another essential element of clinical neurology to guide the diagnostic work-up, from both the clinical and instrumental point of views.