ch. 1: clinical neuropsychology and assessment Flashcards

(44 cards)

1
Q

What is neuropsychology?

A

links behavior and mental processes to the brain

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2
Q

Neuropsychologist

A

study brain-behavior relationships (top-down)

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3
Q

Psychologist

A

Studies behavior.

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4
Q

Neurologist

A

MD diagnosing and treating nervous system disorders.

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5
Q

Neuropsychiatrist

A

MD focusing on organic aspects of mental disorders.

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6
Q

Neurosurgeon

A

MD specializing in nervous system surgery.

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7
Q

Neuroscientist

A

Researchers studying molecular composition and functioning of the nervous system (bottom-up).

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8
Q

What are key developments in modern neuropsychology that have occurred since the 70s?

A
  • shift from laboratory to clinical settings
  • formation of INS and NAN
  • division 40 of the APA
  • growth in scientific journals and memberships
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9
Q

What are unique aspects of neuropsychology?

A
  • Science-based, data-driven, and objective.
  • Emphasis on statistical measures (validity, reliability, standardization).
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10
Q

clinical neuropsychologist training

A
  • doctoral level in clinical psychology with brain-behavior education
  • 1 year internship
  • 1-2 years postdoctoral fellowship
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11
Q

neuropsychologist responsibilities

A
  • assessment/diagnosis
  • treatment recommendations
  • rehabilitation
  • research
  • teaching
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12
Q

what are assumptions about neuropsychological assessment?

A
  • Behavior/cognition involves brain processes.
  • Processes correspond to specific brain areas.
  • Brain injury causes deficits, not new behaviors.
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13
Q

What are the theories on brain function?

A
  • modularity/localization
  • equipotentiality
  • distributed processing
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14
Q

Modularity/Localizationist

A

brain has specialized modules

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15
Q

Equipotentiality

A

brain regions can substitute for each other

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16
Q

distributed processing

A

functions are networked across regions

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17
Q

association

A

two tasks affected similarly, suggesting a shared underlying ability or factor

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18
Q

dissociation

A

performance differs significantly between tasks, implying-task-specific sensitivities or difficulty

19
Q

double dissociation

A

different tasks are independently affected in separate patient groups, proving they measure different functions

20
Q

association and correlation

A

Association and dissociation suggest correlation but double dissociation concludes that there is no correlation

21
Q

What are lesion methods?

A

studies how brain damage affects behavior and cognition

22
Q

lesion approach: single case studies

A
  • most helpful when dealing with very rare disorders; also allow us to identity exceptions for rules used for group studies
  • allow us to refine the limits of theories
23
Q

lesion approach: group case studies

A
  • allows us to see the general/normal behavior for human beings
  • We cannot take the averages and apply them to a single individual
24
Q

Limitations of the lesion method

A
  • no two lesions are identical
  • lesions don’t respect structural boundaries
  • heterogeneity of response to lesions
  • deficits may reflect loss of function in damaged area, the adaptive response of areas adjacent to the damaged area, and disconnections of distant areas at the point of damage
25
What are the reversible lesions?
- WADA - TMS/rTMS
26
WADA
involves injecting a barbiturate into the right or left internal carotid artery; temporarily anesthetizes one hemispheres (half of the brain is “asleep”)
27
What are the strengths and weaknesses of WADA?
- Strengths: Allows you to test the abilities of one hemisphere alone; used for patients that are considered for surgery for epilepsy - weaknesses: highly invasive
28
TMS/rTMS
Magnetic pulses affect motor/cognitive functions
29
What are the strengths and weaknesses of TMS/rTMS?
- strengths: relatively noninvasive; no longer-term issues - weaknesses: long-term effects are unclear
30
reversible vs. irreversible
- reversible: does not cause any long-term effects to the brain (WADA; rTMS/TMS) - irreversible: cannot undo damage (lesion)
31
What are the electrophysiological methods?
- EEGs - event-related potentials (ERPS)
32
electroencephalogram (EEG)
- uses electrodes placed on the scalp and reads the electrical activity generated by neurons - Ongoing electrical activity in large groups of neurons firing synchrony
33
event-related potentials (ERPs)
A way of measuring potential changes in the brain from millisecond to millisecond
34
What are the advantages of electrophysiological methods?
- non-invasive, does not require behavioral responses - passive viewing of stimuli, continuous EEG of normal interactions - time blocking neural changes to external stimuli
35
What are the functional methods?
- positron emission tomography (PET scans) - functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
36
positron emission tomography (PET scans)
- tracks radioactive glucose metabolism - measures function but uses radiation - Inject radioactive glucose into body and the person will do a task; the radioactive material will decay and sends out ions in polar opposite directions - Active brain areas metabolize more glucose
37
What are the advantages and disadvantages of PET scans?
- advantages: measure function, can be used for any task - disadvantages: radioactive (limit exposure), poor resolution, one task, expensive
38
fMRI
- uses radiofrequency pulses and a strong magnetic field to detect changes in blood flow - Brain cells use more oxygen when they're active, so areas that are more active appear brighter on an fMRI scan
39
What are the structural methods?
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) - CT scans
40
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- magnetic fields create high-resolution images - All hydrogen atoms in our brian spin in a random way; putting them in a magnetic field will cause them to align with the field → introducing a radio frequency pulse will “knock” out atoms of alignment Atoms spin back to place → the spin back generates a measurable magnetic field; able to construct high/low density areas
41
what are the advantages/disadvantages of MRI?
- advantages: good spatial resolution, can see different tissues, no radiation = safe - disadvantages: can't have metal, can't see calcium well, takes longer than CT
42
diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
- Traces axon projections through fluid diffusion patterns. - Looks at how water diffuses throughout the brain (how it crosses membranes and travels)
43
case of H.M.
Insights into memory function through hippocampal damage.
44
vegetative state
fMRI detects cognitive activity in patients misdiagnosed as vegetative.