Neuropsychology Flashcards
What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychologist
- Are clinicians with knowledge of neuropsychological symptoms and test methods to carry out the diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain disorders
- Study the relationship between (physical) brain functions and behavior (in specific behavior, emotions and cognitions).
- Are scientist-practitioners.
How can neuropsychological research be divided and what are they?
- Fundamental neuropsychological research: focuses on the understanding of underlying cognitive disorders/processes and related brain structures using experimental paradigms.
- Clinically oriented neuropsychological research: focuses on (improving) the assessment and treatment of brain disorders.
What are some of the working domains of a neuropsychologist?
Hospitals, mental health care (GGZ), rehabilitation centers, forensic institutions, residential or nursing homes, specialized institutions, etc.
Very varied work, both in children and adults, multidisciplinary (works together with a lot of other (para)medical disciplines.
What is a neuro-myth?
A misconception generated by a misunderstanding, a misreading, or a misquoting of facts scientifically established (by brain research) to make a case for the use of brain research in education or other contexts. It often generates from overgeneralization of empirical research, and are reinforced/propagated by, for example, Hollywood.
Subtraction method
- Franciscus (Frans) Cornelis Donders
- 1818-1889
- Reaction time paradigm: The use of reaction times to evaluate cognitive processes
- Pure insertions: A single cognitive process can be inserted into a task without affecting the duration of other processes
- Fallacies of pure insertion: Potential other mental processes involved in tasks
- Solution: Include multiple tasks/contrasts.
- This method is used in brain imaging research and neuropsychological tests (Stroop).
- Criticism on neuropsychological tests: Limited ecological validity (gap between test and everyday behavior).
- Solution: Add questionnaires and observations, virtual /augmented reality can help standardize environment.
What is the dissociation? And what is the goal of it?
Dissociation relates to a specific loss of a function. Its goal is to identify the neural substrate of a particular brain function and/or on the localization of function using case studies, neuroimaging and/or neuropsychological testing.
Single dissociation
Difference between tasks due to brain lesion which must be associated with the aspect of behavior studied. It assumes a serial organization of function in the brain.
Double dissociation
Demonstrates that two (more or less) independent cognitive processes rely on different brain regions or mechanisms. However, a single neural network model can also show patterns of double dissociation, meaning that a pattern of double dissociation in two patients does not necessarily indicate independent modules.
How do we know when there is a dissociation?
- Scores on one task should significantly fall above or below the average of the normative group,
- and the difference between the performances on task A and B differ significantly from each other.
How can neuroimaging techniques be divided?
- Structural imaging: The visualization and analysis of anatomical properties of the brain. (CT, MRI, DTI, VBM, MRS).
- Functional imaging: The identification of brain activity and brain functioning. (fMRI, PET, EEG, ERP, MEG).
What are spatial and temporal resolution?
Spatial resolution: Sharpness of the image.
Temporal resolution: Speed of recording.
CT
- Principle: Uses multiple X-rays, taken at different angles to produce cross-sectional images.
- Produces a general image of an area.
- Minimal radiation
- Less expensive than MRI.
- Around 5 min.
- Relatively high resolution
- Able to produce different “slices” of the brain in several angles.
- Able to identify abnormalities in the brain.
- Benefits Faster and can provide images of tissue, organs and skeletal structure.
- Risks: Harmful for unborn babies, a very small dose of radiation, a potential reaction to the use of dyes.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Principle: Uses powerful magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to produce detailed images.
- Produces more detailed images of soft tissue, ligaments, and organs.
- No radiation.
- More expensive than CT scans.
- 15 min to 2 hours
- High resolution
- Clearer images of soft tissue compared to CT: MRI is able to distinguish between grey and white matter.
- Able to identify abnormalities in the brain
- Benefits: Produces more detailed images.
- Risks: Possible reactions to metals due to magnets, loud noises from the machine can cause hearing issues, increase in body temperature during long MRIs, claustrophobia.
Functional MRI
- Register moments of activity of the magnetic protons in the body.
- Increase activity in a certain area in the brain is associated with increased blood supply in these brain areas.
- Measures ratio between oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor hemoglobin
Electroencephalography (EEG)
- High temporal resolution
- Measures the electrical activity generated in the brain cells.
Clinical neuropsychology is physics and stamp collecting. Explain what those two terms mean.
Physics: mechanistic explanation.
Stamp collecting: Establishing phenomena.
Clinical psychologies includes two types of stamps. Name and explain them.
Clear categories: Which country? Which color?
Fuzzy categories: e.g. animals versus people.
Antiguity
- 400 BCE - 300 CE
- Philosophy meets empiricism
- Aristotle, Hippocrates, Herophilus, Galen
