Neuropsychology 288292 223819882 2008-07-05T23:45:36Z Justinfr 3462111 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/58.107.214.49|58.107.214.49]] to last version by Bobo192 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Neuropsychology}} '''Neuropsychology''' is an interdisciplinary branch of [[psychology]] and [[neuroscience]] that aims to understand how the structure and function of the [[brain]] relate to specific psychological processes and overt behaviors. The term neuropsychology has been applied to both lesion studies of humans and animals and efforts to record electrical activity from individual cells (or groups of cells) in higher primates (including some studies of human patients).<ref name="Posner2000">Posner, M. I. & DiGirolamo, G. J. (2000) Cognitive Neuroscience: Origins and Promise,''Psychological Bulletin, 126:6'', 873-889.</ref> It is [[scientific method|scientific]] in its approach and shares an [[information processing]] view of the mind with [[cognitive psychology]] and [[cognitive science]]. It is one of the more [[Eclecticism|eclectic]] of the psychological disciplines, overlapping at times with areas such as [[neuroscience]], [[philosophy]] (particularly [[philosophy of mind]]), [[neurology]], [[psychiatry]] and [[computer science]] (particularly by making use of [[artificial neural network]]s). In practice neuropsychologists tend to work in [[academia]] (involved in basic or clinical research), clinical settings (involved in assessing or treating patients with neuropsychological problems{{ndash}} see [[clinical neuropsychology]]), [[forensic]] settings (often assessing people for legal reasons or court cases or working with offenders, or appearing in court as expert witness) or industry (often as consultants where neuropsychological knowledge is applied to product design or in the management of pharmaceutical clinical-trials research for drugs that might have a potential impact on CNS functioning). ==Approaches== Experimental neuropsychology is an approach which uses methods from [[experimental psychology]] to uncover the relationship between the nervous system and cognitive function. The majority of work involves studying healthy humans in a laboratory setting, although a minority of researchers may conduct animal experiments. Human work in this area often takes advantage of specific features of our nervous system (for example that visual information presented to a specific [[visual field]] is preferentially processed by the [[Cerebral cortex|cortical]] hemisphere on the opposite side) to make links between [[neuroanatomy]] and psychological function. [[Clinical neuropsychology]] is the application of neuropsychological knowledge to the assessment (see [[neuropsychological test]] and [[neuropsychological assessment]]), management and [[Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)|rehabilitation]] of people who have suffered illness or injury (particularly to the brain) which has caused [[neurocognitive]] problems. In particular they bring a psychological viewpoint to treatment, to understand how such illness and injury may affect and be affected by psychological factors. Clinical neuropsychologists typically work in hospital settings in an interdisciplinary medical team, although private practice work is not unknown. [[Cognitive neuropsychology]] is a relatively new development and has emerged as a distillation of the complementary approaches of both experimental and clinical neuropsychology. It seeks to understand the mind and brain by studying people who have suffered brain injury or neurological illness. One model of neuropsychological functioning is known as functional [[localization]]. This is based on the principle that if a specific cognitive problem can be found after an injury to a specific area of the brain, it is possible that this part of the brain is in some way involved. However, there may be reason to believe that the link between mental functions and neural regions is not so simple. An alternative model of the link between mind and brain, such as [[parallel processing]], may have more explanatory power for the workings and dysfunction of the human brain. Yet another approach investigates how the pattern of errors produced by brain-damaged individuals can constrain our understanding of mental representations and processes without reference to the underlying neural structure. A more recent but related approach is [[cognitive neuropsychiatry]] which seeks to understand the normal function of mind and brain by studying psychiatric or [[mental illness]]. [[Connectionism]] is the use of [[artificial neural network]]s to model specific cognitive processes using what are considered to be simplified but plausible models of how neurons operate. Once trained to perform a specific cognitive task these networks are often damaged or 'lesioned' to simulate brain injury or impairment in an attempt to understand and compare the results to the effects of brain injury in humans. [[Functional neuroimaging]] uses specific [[neuroimaging]] technologies to take readings from the brain, usually when a person is doing a particular task, in an attempt to understand how the activation of particular brain areas is related to the task. In particular, the growth of methodologies to employ cognitive testing within established [[functional magnetic resonance imaging]] ([[fMRI]]) techniques to study brain-behavior relations is having a notable influence on neuropsychological research. In practice these approaches are not mutually exclusive and most neuropsychologists select the best approach or approaches for the task to be completed. ==Methods and tools== {{Psychology (sidebar)}} * The use of standardized [[neuropsychological tests]]. These tasks have been designed so the performance on the task can be linked to specific [[neurocognitive]] processes. These tests are typically [[standardized]], meaning that they have been administered to a specific group(s) of individuals before being used in individual clinical cases. The data resulting from standardization are known as normative data. After these data have been collected and analyzed, they are used as the comparative standard against which individual performances can be compared. Examples of neuropsychological tests include: the Weschler Adult Memory Scale (WMS), the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and the Wescheler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Other tests include the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, the Boston Naming Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Benton Visual Retention Test, and the Controlled Oral Word Association. (The Woodcock Johnson and the Nelson-Denny are not a neuropsychological tests per se. They are psycho-educational batteries of tests used to measure an individual's intra-disciplinary strengths and weakness in specific academic areas (writing, reading and arithmetic)). * The use of brain scans to investigate the structure or function of the brain is common, either as simply a way of better assessing brain injury with high resolution pictures, or by examining the relative activations of different brain areas. Such technologies may include [[fMRI]] (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and [[Positron Emission Tomography|PET]] (Positron Emission Tomography), which yields data related to functioning, as well as [[MRI]] (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and [[Computed axial tomography|CAT]] (or CT) (Computed Axial Tomography), which yields structural data. * The use of [[electrophysiology|electrophysiological]] measures designed to measure the activation of the brain by measuring the electrical or magnetic field produced by the nervous system. This may include [[Electroencephalography|EEG]] (Electroencephalography) or [[Magneto-encephalography|MEG]] (Magneto-encephalography). * The use of designed experimental tasks, often controlled by computer and typically measuring reaction time and accuracy on a particular tasks thought to be related to a specific [[neurocognitive]] process. An example of this is the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). == See also == {{col-begin}} {{Col-break}} * [[Behavioral neurology]] * [[Brain fitness]] * [[Clinical neuropsychology]] * [[Cognitive behavioral therapy]] * [[Cognitive neuropsychiatry]] * [[Cognitive neuropsychology]] * [[Cognitive neuroscience]] * [[Cognitive psychology]] * [[Comparative neuropsychology]] * [[Dialectical behavioral therapy]] {{Col-break}} * [[Neurocognitive]] * [[Neurology]] * [[Neuropsychiatry]] * [[Neuropsychological test]] * [[Neurophysiology]] * [[Neuroscience]] {{Col-break}} * [[Nonviolent communication]] * [[Philosophy of mind]] * [[Psychiatry]] * [[Psychology]] * [[PhD]] * [[PsyD]] * [[Rational emotive behavior therapy]] * [[ScD]] {{col-end}} === Related lists === * [[List of publications in psychology#Neuropsychology|Important publications in neuropsychology ]] ==External links== * [http://www.nanonline.org/ The National Academy of Neuropsychology] a professional society that includes clinicians, scientist-practitioners, and researchers interested in neuropsychology * [http://www.the-ins.org/ The International Neuropsychological Society], "a multi-disciplinary non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing communication among the scientific disciplines which contribute to the understanding of brain-behavior relationships." * [http://www.div40.org/ Division 40 of the American Psychological Association (Clinical Neuropsychology)], "a scientific and professional organization of psychologists interested in the study of brain-behavior relationships, and the clinical application of that knowledge to human problems." * [http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com/ Neuropsychology Central] * [http://www.neuropsychologie.fr/ Clinical neuropsychology] * [http://www.smithsrisca.demon.co.uk/neuro-timeline.html History of neuropsychology ] as a timeline. * [http://www.divinestra.com/np.html a cup of neuropsychology?] selective resources about brain-behavior relations from Anthony H. Risser, Ph.D. * [http://neuropsychological.blogspot.com/ brainblog]. * [http://www.abpdn.org/index.shtml The American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology]. Board certifying body for practicing Pediatric Neuropsychologists and is the only board certifying body specific to pediatric neuropsychology. * [http://www.biopsychology.com/news/ Biological Psychology Links] *[http://www.iifnr.org/ International Institute for Neuropsychological Research] Not-for-profit institute aimed at supporting neuropsychological research internationally * [http://www.pns-pa.org/ The Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society] founding society of the Neuropsychology journal, serving neuropsychologists in the Philadelphia area * [http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9218/schools.htm Neuropsychological Assessment in Schools]{{ndash}} from the [[Education Resources Information Center]] Clearinghouse on Tests Measurement and Evaluation, [[Washington DC]] * [http://www.theabcn.org/ The American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology] Board certifying body for practicing Clinical Neuropsychologists. ABCN is a member of the American Board of Professional Psychology ==Notes== {{Reflist|1}} ==Further reading== * Arnold, M.B. (1984). ''Memory and the Brain''. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. * Attix, D.K. & Welsh-Bohmer, K.A. (2006). ''Geriatric Neuropsychology''. The Guilford Press: New York. * Beaumont, J.G.(1983). ''Introduction to Neuropsychology''. Guilford Publications Inc. ISBN 0-89862-515-7 * Beamont, J. G., Kenealy, P.M., & Rogers, M.J.C. (1999). ''The Blackwell Dictionary of Neuropsychology''. Malden, Massachusetts,Blackwell Publishers. * Bush, S.S. & Martin, T.A. (2005). Geriatric Neuropsychology: Practice Essentials. Taylor & Francis Group: New York. * Cabeza, R. & Kingstone, A. (eds.) (2001) ''Handbook of Functional Neuroimaging and Cognition''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. * Christensen, A-L. (1975) ''Luria's Neuropsychological Investigation''. New York: Spectrum Publications. * David, A.S. et al. (eds.) (1997). ''The Neuropsychology of Schizophrenia: Brain Damage, Behaviour, and Cognition Series'', East Sussex,UK, Psychology Press. * Hannay, H.J. (1986). ''Experimental Techniques in Human Neuropsychology''. New York: Oxford University Press. * Hartlage, L.C. & Telzrow, C.F. (1985) ''The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences''. New York: Plenum Press. * Kertesz, A. (ed.) (1994). ''Localization and Neuroimaging in Neuropsychology''. Academic Press: New York. * Kolb, B., & Wishaw, I.Q. (2003). ''Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology'' (5th edition). Freeman. ISBN 0-7167-5300-6 * Levin, H.S., Eisenberg, H.M. & Benton, A.L. (1991) ''Frontal Lobe Function and Dysfunction''. New York: Oxford University Press. * Lezak, M.D., Howieson, D.B., & Loring, D.W. (2004). ''Neuropsychological Assessment'' (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. * Loring, D.W. (ed.) (1999). ''INS Dictionary of Neuropsychology''. New York: Oxford University Press. * Llinas, R (2001) "I of the Vortex". Boston, MIT Press. * Luria, A. R. (1973). ''The Working Brain: An Introduction to Neuropsychology''. * Luria, A.R. (1976). ''Cognitive Development: Its Cultural and Social Foundations''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press * Luria, A.R. (1979). ''The Making of Mind: A Personal Account of Soviet Psychology''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press * Luria, A.R. (1980). ''Higher Cortical Functions in Man''. New York: Basic Books. * Luria, A.R. (1982). ''Language and Cognition''. New York: John Wiley & Sons. * Luria, A.R. (1987). ''The Mind of a Mnemonist''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. * Luria, A.R. & Tsvetkova, L.S. (1990) ''The Neuropsychological Analysis of Problem Solving''. Orlando: Paul M. Deutsch Press. * McCarthy, R.A. & Warrington, E.K. (1990). ''Cognitive Neuropsychology: A Clinical Introduction''. New York: Academic Press. * Mesulam, M-M. (2000). ''Principles of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology{{ndash}} 2nd Ed''. New York: Oxford University Press. * Miller, B.L. & Cummings, J.L. (1999) ''The Human Frontal Lobes''. New York: The Guilford Press. * Rains, G.D. (2002). ''Principles of Human Neuropsychology''. Boston: McGraw-Hill. * Stuss, D.T. & Knight, R.T. (eds.) (2002) ''Principles of Frontal Lobe Function''. New York: Oxford University Press. * Tarter, R.E., Van Thiel, D.H. & Edwards, K.L. (1988) ''Medical Neuropsychology: The Impact of Disease on Behavior''. New York: Plenum Press. * Heilbronner, R.L. (2005) ''Forensic Neuropsychology Casebook''. New York, London. 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