Chapter 16 - Neuropsychology Flashcards
What is neuropsychology?
the relationship between brain processes, human behavior, and psychological functioning
What are the 2 main assumptions of neuropsychology?
- Everything can be broken down into subtasks, which can be studied
- Different Psychological Processes are controlled by different areas/ combinations
What are the two different types of neuropsychologists?
- experimental psychologists
2. clinical psychologists
Who was the first person to bring up localization of function?
Franz Gall
What were Gall’s two ideas
- localization
2. phrenology
When did Paul Broca arrive on the scene?
1861
What and where did Broca discover?
Tan’s lesion on his left frontal lobe, and then repeated results
Why was Paul Broca influence localization of function so significantly?
The French surgeon was very well respected
What is a lesion?
A small area of damage
What is the modularity view?
modules are regions that perform its own kind of analysis and are essential to the larger puzzle
What is a network?
A team of modules used to accomplish a certain function
What is lesion analysis?
Studying the localization of function by observing the results of brain damage
What is disconnection syndrome?
A type of syndrome that occurs when different modules are unable to interact with each other due to network issues
What is a neuropsychological assessment?
Tests designed to test mental functions
What are the different types of neuropsychological assessment?
- Test Batteries
- Tailored Tests
(3. General Tests)
How do most clinical neuropsychologists proceed when it comes to neuropsycholgical assessment?
Most give a test battery, and then proceede to more specific options
How will the test results be evaluated?
They will be compared to established averages, or norms.
What are the 3 listed test batteries?
A. Halstead-Reitan Battery
B. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
C. Luria-Nebraska
What is the Halstead-Reitan Battery?
- It is the most popular test
- it uses 10 subtests for variety
What is the Luria-Nebraska Battery?
- 2nd most popular test
- has high reliability but is questioned by some
- many false positives
- 269 items
What are the 3 Mechanisms of Brain Dysfunction?
- Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA’s, Strokes)
- Trauma Brain Injury
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
(4. Tumors?)
What is a CVA?
When the brain does not receive blood due to blood vessel blockage
What areas due CVA’s affect?
Where the brain tissue has died and the surrounding area
What are potential solutions to CVA’s?
Experimentation is taking place with chemicals and stem cells to potential grow new blood vessels and neurons