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The Neuroscience, Experimental Psychology, and Psychophysiology (NEPP) curriculum within the MBHT PhD program focuses on the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying human behavior. It provides comprehensive training in neuroscience, experimental psychology, and psychophysiology. The curriculum is designed to offer a strong theoretical and practical foundation for understanding the interaction between the brain and body in generating thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and actions. It explores mental processes such as attention, awareness, language, perception, and social cognition using experimental methodologies and advanced techniques, including neuroimaging (fMRI and EEG), peripheral psychophysiology, and behavioral analysis.

The NEPP curriculum is structured around three main clusters: Conceptual Knowledge, Technical Skills, and Research Practices, Ethics, and Integrity.

The Conceptual Knowledge courses provide an in-depth understanding of topics ranging from affective sciences to clinical psychopathology, cognitive processes, brain plasticity, sleep, and consciousness.

The Technical Skills courses emphasize hands-on training in experimental design, statistical analysis, and the use of software for neurophysiological and behavioral data analysis. Practical learning sessions, including applied research projects that simulate experimental studies, ensure the acquisition of technical skills while promoting a critical and informed use of research tools.

 The Research Practices, Ethics, and Integrity courses address essential aspects such as recognizing questionable research practices, fostering transparency and accountability in science, and conducting ethical experiments.

A key feature of the NEPP curriculum is its integration of neuroscientific, psychological, and computational approaches with the research methods and themes explored in the Human Thought: Philosophy, History, and Science (HT) curriculum. This includes conceptual analysis, the history of scientific thought (particularly in cognitive and social sciences), philosophy of mind, and cross-cultural perspectives. This interdisciplinary approach equips researchers with the tools to study mental and behavioral phenomena through joint research projects and continuous dialogue across disciplines.

The coursework, completed in the first year of the PhD program, provides the skills and knowledge necessary to develop innovative and interdisciplinary research projects. NEPP aims to train independent researchers capable of addressing contemporary challenges in the science of the mind.

What NEPP offers

•  International, vibrant, and interdisciplinary  research environment 

•  Rigorous training in neuroscience, experimental psychology, and psychophysiology

•  Opportunity to meet leading researchers who visit IMT every year 

•  Free double room accommodation for 3 years 

•  Desk in the campus 

•  Everyday free meals (lunch and dinner) at the IMT canteen for 3 years 

•  Scholarship €16,243/year for three years 

•  Participation in exchange programs 

•  Double degree programs 

How to Apply