Historical Issues, Terminology

neuropsychology

examines changes in behavior as a result of brain trauma; study of the relationship between brain and behavior, focusing on how brain structures and processes influence cognition, emotions, and actions

cognitive neuroscience

investigates mental functions as they are linked to neural processes; builds upon foundations laid by neuropsych

How is neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience related?

• Neuropsych—> study of the brain-behavior relationships through the lens of damage and dysfunction

• cognitive neuroscience—> wider range of methods to study normal and impaired cognition

• together—> explains how the neurological organization of the brain supports how we feel, think, and act

Clinical neuropsychologists

• work in healthcare settings

• diagnose deficits

• plan rehabilitation programs

• assess environmental factos

• help people recover from cognitive disfunction

experimental neuropsychologists

• work in research contexts

• compare people with brain damage to intact brains

• break down mental functions into categories to isolate role of specific regions

• understand neural bases of cognition

trephination/trepanning

drilling/scraping a hole into the skull to expose the brain/relieve pressure

• modern—> craniotomy to relieve intracranial pressure

• historically—> treatment for psychiatric conditions, and spiritual reasons to release evil spirits or allowed for altered states of consciousness

Two theories about the structure where behavior originates?

• cardiac hypothesis (Aristotle)

• brain hypothesis (Hippocrates, Galen)

Cardiac hypothesis

(Aristotle) behavior comes from the heart because it is red, passionate, and firey

Brain hypothesis

(Hippocrates, Galen) behavior comes from the brain

• hippocrates treated peole with brain injuries and realized that if the brain was impaired so was behavior

• galen was surgeon for gladiators which involved brain damage imp