Lecture 4 - Neuropsychological assessment and testing

What is neuropsychology?

The study of brain structure and function as it relates to psychological processes and behavior. It is used in clinical evaluations and scientific research.

What are the three primary goals of neuropsychology?

• Diagnosis: Identify brain damage or dysfunction.

• Description: Understand cognitive, behavioral, or emotional consequences.

• Tracking: Monitor changes over time, such as improvement, deterioration, or treatment effects.

Why is history taking important in neuropsychological testing?

It contextualizes test results by providing insights into medical, family, and personal history, helping to interpret deficits more accurately.

What are the advantages of neuropsychological testing?

• Standardization: Repeatable instructions and tasks.

• Norms: Comparison against averages based on age, sex, and IQ.

• Sensitivity: Detects subtle deficits or enhancements.

• Specificity: Focuses on specific domains like language or visuospatial skills.

Define reliability in the context of neuropsychological testing.

It refers to the consistency of a test in measuring the same outcome repeatedly.

Define validity in neuropsychological testing.

It measures whether a test assesses what it is intended to measure, ensuring accuracy.

What is the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)?

A test developed in the 1940s to assess verbal memory through word recall tasks.

What is the Stroop Task, and what does it measure?

A test where participants name the color of a word instead of reading the word, assessing executive functioning and interference suppression.

What is the Boston Naming Test used for?

It assesses language abilities by asking participants to name objects in line drawings. A score below 45 indicates potential anomic aphasia.

What does the Clock Drawing Test evaluate?

It measures visuospatial abilities and executive function by asking participants to draw a clock with specific instructions.

What is malingering, and how is it detected?

Malingering involves faking deficits for personal gain. Tests like the Test of Memory Malingering (ToMM) identify inconsistencies or performance below chance levels.

What is the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve?

A tool used to evaluate a test's quality by plotting sensitivity versus false positive rates. A higher area under the curve (AUC) indicates a better test.

What is hemispatial neglect, and how might it manifest in tests?

A condition where individuals fail to attend to one side of space, often observed in the Clock Drawing Test with incomplete drawings.

What strategies can improve recall in memory tests?

• Associating items.

• Creating mnemonics.

• Using rhythm or songs.

• Rehearsing lists in segments.

What is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and what does it assess?

A test where participants sort cards based on changing rules, measuring adaptability and executive function.