9 - neuropsychology

Neuropsychology

The study of behaviours with reference to their neurobiological basis

Cognitive Neuropsychology

Research into the biological bases of cognition, emotions, and actions

Clinical Neuropsychology

The applied science of understanding behavioural expression of brain dysfunction for diagnosis and intervention

Clinical Psychology

Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological and mental health problems

Clinical Neuropsychology (vs Clinical Psych)

Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders caused by brain-related conditions

Broad Cognitive Domains

Executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, attention, processing speed, perception, arousal, alertness

Gall and Phrenology

Historical model suggesting brain areas grow with use and can be felt as skull bumps

Broca and "Tan"

Discovery of Broca’s area through study of language loss and post-mortem brain analysis

Modular Organisation

Modern idea that specific brain areas contribute to components of complex mental processes

Emergent Properties

Mental processes arise from coordinated activity across multiple brain regions

Disconnection Syndromes

Disorders caused by white matter damage, disrupting communication between brain regions

Conduction Aphasia

Type of aphasia where comprehension and speech are intact but repetition is impaired

Lesion Studies

Method using brain damage (e.g., stroke, tumour) to study behavioural consequences

Neuropsychological Assessment

Use of psychometric tests, interviews, and medical history to evaluate brain function

Localisation of Function

Identifying which brain region or network is impaired

Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

Loss of blood supply to the brain leading to tissue damage

Cerebral Ischemia

Reduced blood flow to the brain, causing oxygen deprivation and potential infarction

Hypoxia

Insufficient oxygen supply to the brain despite adequate blood flow

Infarction

Brain cell death due to disrupted blood flow

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Temporary blockage of blood flow in the brain, resolves within 24 hours

Haemorrhage

Brain bleed due to burst blood vessel, can compress and damage nearby tissue

Stroke Recovery Factors

Severity, location, speed of intervention, health of remaining tissue, nervous system adaptability

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Brain damage from sudden impact, causing widespread nerve fibre damage

Primary Brain Injury

Damage from immediate mechanical forces like skull fractures or acceleration/deceleration

Translation Injury

Linear force that stretches axons

Rotation Injury

Twisting/shearing forces that cause severe axonal damage

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Widespread injury to white matter causing axonal swelling, disconnection, and neuron death

Neurodegenerative Disease

Gradual neuron death causing progressive cognitive and behavioural impairment

Modular Approach to Testing

Use of specific tasks and interviews to localise brain dysfunction

Perceptual Disturbance

Impairments in interpreting sensory information

Visual Agnosia

Inability to identify objects by sight despite intact vision

Prosopagnosia

Inability to recognise familiar faces

Hemineglect

Neglect of one side of space due to attentional deficit, not visual impairment

Apraxia

Impairment in coordinated voluntary movement despite physical ability

Ideational Apraxia

Misordering or incorrect sequencing of task-related actions

Major Neurocognitive Disorder (Dementia)

Significant decline in cognitive domains with progressive onset

Alzheimer's Disease

Neurodegenerative condition with memory loss, executive dysfunction, language issues, and global cognitive decline

Alzheimer’s Neuropathology

Characterised by amyloid plaques, tau tangles, brain atrophy, reduced ACh, and enlarged ventricles

Vascular Dementia

Cognitive decline due to multiple small strokes; stepwise pattern of deficits

Parkinson’s Disease

Motor disorder with bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremors; may include cognitive decline

Bradykinesia

Slowness and reduction in amplitude of movement

Rigidity

Stiffness and resistance to passive movement

Rest Tremor

Tremor present when limb is at rest, reduced during movement

Parkinson’s Cognitive Impairment

Mild impairment that may progress to PDD with executive dysfunction