Cognitive Neuropsychology Exam I

What is cognitive neuropsychology, according to Ellis and Young?

Convergence of cognitive science and neuropsychology, where impaired patients are studied to analyze function of healthy brains

What are the aims of cognitive neuropsychology, according to Ellis and Young?

1. To explain patterns of impaired/intact cognitive performance in brain-injured patients

2. To draw conclusions about normal, intact processes from these pattern explanations

What is a dissociation?

• Impairment in one task but not another = dissociation between two tasks

• Implies different underlying systems, but sweeping claims should be made with caution

What is a double dissociation?

• If patient A is impaired in task x but not in task y, a double dissociation would be finding another patient, B, impaired in task y but not x

• Very strong evidence: heavily suggests there are two different underlying systems

What is an association?

• If a patient performs poorly in task 1, 3, and 4, there is an association between the symptoms/tasks

• Usually poor evidence if attempting to claim the same underlying system performs all of the tasks

What is the modularity hypothesis?

• Our cognitive processes are performed by independent “modules” that all work together to make our brains function properly

• These modules can be damaged on their own, leaving some functions intact and other impaired

What is cognitive neuropsychology to Coltheart?

• A branch of cognitive psychology (NOT neuropsychology) where cognitive performance of brain damaged individuals is studied