ROLE OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

DEFINITION:

According to APA;

“The branch of science that studies the physiological processes of the

nervous system and relates them to behavior and cognition, in terms both of
their normal function and of the dysfunctional processes associated with
brain damage.”

 Neuropsychology is the study of the relationship between

psychological actions and the physical structures of the brain.
 Neuropsychology is the science that studies the relation between brain
and behavior, broadly encompassing research on the lateralization and
localization of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral phenomena,
neurodevelopment, aging and the brain, neuroplasticity, and related areas.
 Contributions to the science of neuropsychology have come from both
experimental neuropsychology (focusing on animals or controlled
studies of neurologically normal humans using techniques such as
dichotic listening and tachistoscopic presentation) and clinical
neuropsychology (studies of behavioral consequences of brain damage.

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HISTORY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY:

ROOTS OF THE WORD NEUROPSYCHOLOGY:

 In the post-Renaissance era, the words neurology and psychology,

from which the term neuropsychology is derived, were introduced.
In his Cerebri anatome of 1664, Thomas Willis (1621–1675), the most
outstanding anatomist of the time, presented the word neurology in
Greek.
 Brenda Milner is a renowned British-Canadian neuropsychologist
known as the founder of neuropsychology». She was born about 100
years ago, and as a Cambridge graduate, she started her research career
of a neurobiologist and psychologist in 1940s.

Neuropsychology can help patients with several disorders, including:

 Tourette Syndrome
 Developmental delays and disorders
 Substance addiction
 Multiple Sclerosis
 Autism
 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
 Recurring concussions
 Learning disabilities
 Alzheimer’s
 Stroke
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Bipolar disorder

NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

DEFINITION:

“A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specializes in understanding the

relationship between the physical brain and behavior. The brain is complex.
Disorders within the brain and nervous system can alter behavior and
cognitive function.”

 According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the role of a

neuropsychologist is to understand how brain structures and systems
relate to behavior and thinking.

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  Neuropsychologists have a doctorate in psychology and training in
neuropsychology. They often work in research or clinical settings.

ROLE OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

WHAT CONDITION DOES NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST EVALUATE?

 Neuropsychologists offer a variety of services, including evaluation and

psychological testing. Typically, individuals are referred to a
neuropsychologist when they report experiencing symptoms like
memory issues, problems with thinking, concentration, or reasoning, or
changes in personality, coordination, awareness, perception, or language
production/comprehension. These issues may arise as a result of a head
injury, coma, exposure to toxins, other medical illness, or they may have
an unknown cause.
 Part of the role of a neuropsychologist is to investigate the potential
underlying causes for the symptoms and subsequent behavior through an
evaluation.
 Neuropsychologists can evaluate and diagnose individuals with
neurocognitive disorders, including dementia, delirium, amnesia,
cognitive disorders due to traumatic brain injury (TBI), and Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases.
 They also evaluate individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders,
like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, intellectual disability,
specific learning disorders, communication disorders, global development
delays, and motor disorders. Additionally, conditions such as multiple

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 sclerosis, epilepsy, brain tumors, stroke, cancer, concussion/head injury,
and coma can be assessed through neuropsychological testing.
 Neuropsychologists are trained in a variety of specialized
psychological assessments that identify and measure an individual’s
cognitive, verbal, social, memory, and motor skills. From these tests,
neuropsychologists evaluate the test results (data) to identify deficits,
weaknesses, and strengths that describe the individual’s functioning in
several domains.
 Neurologists that are medically trained to assess the physical and
biological functioning of the brain, neuropsychologists do not utilize
brain imaging (MRI, fMRI, CAT scan, PET scan, EEG). However, they
sometimes refer individuals to obtain brain imaging to explore medical
causes for presenting symptoms. Additionally, neuropsychologists do not
conduct medical tests; however, they typically request medical records to
better understand an individual’s medical background or to rule out any
medical diagnoses.
 In cognitive testing, neuropsychologists will often administer tests that
evaluate mood, personality, emotion, and behavior. Because
neuropsychologists are concerned with the intersection between
neurology and psychology, an individual’s mental health functioning is
relevant and included during a neuropsychological evaluation. Issues
identified in the brain or brain functioning can have medical, psychiatric,
or neurological causes and can sometimes have multiple etiologies.
 It is important for neuropsychologists to thoroughly assess an
individual’s cognitive performance, personality, mood, and current
functioning.

An individual might seek a neuropsychological evaluation for a number

of reasons, including:
 Seeking diagnosis for recent symptoms
 Seeking diagnostic clarification on continued, unresolved symptoms
 To determine the level of care needed for an individual
 Assessment following a traumatic brain injury or head injury
 Intelligence testing for personal or professional use
 To determine eligibility for school or testing accommodations
 To evaluate eligibility for disability benefits or services
 Assessment following a car crash, work injury, or other accident

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Neuropsychologist treat Peoples with Nervous System disorder:
 Neuropsychologists evaluate and treat people with various types of
nervous system disorders. They work closely with doctors, including
neurologists.
 Illnesses, injuries, and diseases of the brain and nervous system can affect
the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Symptoms that may call for a
neuropsychologist include:
 Memory difficulties
 Mood disturbances
 Learning difficulties
 Nervous system dysfunction

 A neuropsychologist can help determine what impairments you

might have and how severe they are. The following are examples of
conditions they evaluate and treat:
 A stroke can affect behavior, thinking, memory, and other brain
functions in obvious or subtle ways. They can perform an
evaluation to help determine the degree of stroke impairment.
 Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder, can cause several
neurological problems. A neuropsychologist’s exam can provide a
baseline to help them determine disease progression and decreased
function.

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  Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia can interfere
with memory, personality, and cognitive abilities. A
neuropsychologist can perform an exam to help them identify it in
its early stage.
 Traumatic brain injuries can cause a wide variety of symptoms.
A neuropsychologist can help determine how an injury affects
functions like reasoning or problem-solving skills.

TYPICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PROCEDURE:

Neuropsychologists use different types of procedures to identify problems

and treatment plans. Typical procedures they perform include:

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:

This evaluation is an assessment of how your brain functions. The

evaluation will include an interview and questions as well as identify memory
issues and mental health concerns. The interview will also cover information on
symptoms, medical history, and medications you take.

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 An evaluation includes different types of standardized tests to measure
many areas of brain function, including:

 Memory
 Cognitive ability
 Personality
 Problem-solving
 Reasoning
 Emotions

CAREER IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY:

Neuropsychology is a broad field with career paths that follow

academic or clinical tracks. Whereas clinical neuropsychologists work with
patients in a medical facility, academic neuropsychologists perform research
in an educational institution. Here are seven neuropsychology careers to
consider pursuing:

CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST:

 Clinical neuropsychologists diagnose and treat individuals suffering

from neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, dementia and
vascular disease.
 A clinical neuropsychologist works with different patients such as the
 Clinical neuropsychologists mostly work with other medical
professionals to provide effective treatment for their patients. With their
expertise, clinical neuropsychologists can help mental health patient’s
live normal lives in society.
 Clinical neuropsychologists perform a number of tasks, usually
within a clinical setting. They are often involved in
conducting neuropsychological assessments to assess a person's
cognitive skills, usually after some sort of brain injury or neurological
impairment. This may be for the purposes of planning treatments, to
determine someone's neurocognitive functioning or mental capacity
(often done for presentation as evidence in court cases or legal
proceedings) or to detect changes over time.
 A clinical neuropsychologist's typical caseload may include people with
traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) such as
stroke and aneurysm ruptures, brain tumors, epilepsy/seizure
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 disorders, dementias, mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia), and a wide
range of developmental disorders, including attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning
disabilities, autism and Tourette's syndrome.
 Clinical neuropsychologists' training has included methods
of psychotherapy and counseling. They can also provide therapeutic
services to patients in need of education and emotional support
concerning their neurological injuries or illness.
 Many clinical neuropsychologists are employed by medical schools and
hospitals, especially neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation facilities,
and some work in private practice. They are frequently active in teaching
at the university level and conducting research into a wide range of
issues concerning human brain-behavior relationships.
 Some clinical neuropsychologists are also employed by
pharmaceutical companies to help develop and test neuropsychological
assessment tools.

ASSESSMENT:
Specialist skills are required in the assessment of neurological patients.
This involves proficiency in the administration of a wide variety
of neuropsychological tests.
ACUTE TREATMENT:
Clinical neuropsychologists are specifically recommended as team
members, recognizing their unique role in diagnosis and rehabilitation of
serious and disabling neurological conditions.

 Treatment and rehabilitation encompasses a broad range of specialist

behavioral and cognitive interventions not only for the client, but also for
their family.
 In acute settings neuropsychologists work alongside neurosurgeons and
neurologists and allied disciplines, usually in a regional neurosciences

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 center. They are concerned with the early effects of trauma, neurosurgery
and neurological disease.

CONSULTATION:
Neuropsychologists have an important role consulting to other members
of the multidisciplinary team, providing them with important information from
the psychological perspective .
RESEARCH:
Research is an important aspect of neuropsychological practice.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Neuropsychologists are also to be commonly found in the management of

rehabilitation facilities, and in individual case management. Leadership of
multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams is frequently part of their clinical role.

CLINICAL PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

Clinical pediatric neuropsychologists have the same functions as clinical

neuropsychologists. However, they focus on children, unlike their counterparts
who mainly treat adults.

 Also referred to as child neuropsychologists, clinical pediatric

neuropsychologists diagnose neurological disorders, central nervous
system diseases and seizure disorders in children.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS RESEARCHERS:

Neuropsychology researchers study the brain and the nervous

system. They research cognitive dysfunction and reveal how it affects behavior,
emotion and cognitive functioning.

 Neuropsychology researchers also develop alternative methods for

diagnosing and treating neurological disorders.
 Neuropsychology researchers don't treat people; they help other medical
professionals understand what causes neurological disorders.
 They also help them understand the ramifications these disorders have on
daily living and teach professionals like psychologists and
psychotherapists how to manage cognitive diseases and disorders.

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NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST PROFESSORS:

Neuropsychology professors conduct neuropsychology research in an

academic setting. Though they're similar to neuropsychology researchers,
neuropsychology professors work in academia, while researchers may work in
non-academic institutions.

 Neuropsychology professors stay up-to-date with the latest developments

in their field, conduct research and publish their findings in scientific
journals.
 Neuropsychology professors also lecture students in neuropsychological
science. They create and implement learning plans for students and
administer tests and exams to measure each student’s performance

REHABILITATION DIRECTORS:

Rehabilitation directors work at rehab facilities where they direct and

oversee all aspects of patient treatment and care. They design and implement
plans for various types of rehabilitative treatment plans such as speech and
physical therapy.

 Rehabilitation directors also perform administrative duties to maintain

operations at rehab facilities. Some of their duties involve budgeting,
staffing, compensation and stakeholder management.

FORENSIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

A forensic neuropsychologist applies neuropsychological assessment

techniques to the legal field. They evaluate litigants and assess their emotional
and cognitive functioning.

 Forensic psychologists offer assistance when disputes arise over the

emotional, cognitive or behavioral functioning of parties in a legal case.
For example, they may conduct rigorous assessments to verify a
defendant's insanity plea.

CONGINITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

Cognitive neuropsychologists evaluate the brain structure and its

connection to cognitive abilities. These neuropsychologists also explore the
consequences of brain injuries and neurological diseases on speech, reasoning,
perception, memory and language acquisition.

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  Most cognitive neuropsychologists are researchers. However, unlike their
other counterparts, they create models to understand and explain how
humans gain and exercise their abilities to speak, recall, learn, memorize
and perceive things.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Not only does your neuropsychology specialty dictate your duties, but it may
also provide you with a specific work location. Here are some of a
neuropsychologist's different work environments:

HEALTHCARE FACILITATORS

Neurologists may work in a healthcare facility such as a hospital if they

specialize in clinical and pediatric neuropsychology.

PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCH AGENCIES:

Neuropsychologists may work in private and government research

agencies where they conduct experiments to solve neuropsychological
problems, formulate policies and act as trainers and facilitators.

UNUVERSITIES:

As a neurologist, you may work at a university or another tertiary

institution where you can teach students, conduct research and write a variety of
scientific papers.

MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL ORGANIZATION:

Neuropsychologists can also work for a medical or nonmedical

organization as consultants.

Q 2. APPLICATION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST

Psychology which focuses on behavior and mental health, neuropsychology

is the study of the anatomy and functioning of the brain, especially in its
role in cognition, behavior, and psychological processes.

 Neuropsychologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of the

neurocognitive and behavioral effects of neurological disorders. That’s
why neuropsychology is an important element in the practice of
neurosurgery, especially when surgical procedures involve the brain.

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TWO TYPES OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:

There are two types of neuropsychologists.

 The first conducts assessments and evaluations
 The other provides cognitive remediation and addresses the emotional
aspects of a neurosurgical condition.
The first kind of neuropsychologist might evaluate a patient before brain
surgery to assess cognitive functioning through tests that measure memory,
attention, language, sensorimotor ability, and visual and spatial skills.
 Those tests also look at what are called “executive functions” planning,
organizing, problem solving, self-monitoring, and other high-level
cognitive abilities. These evaluations can help identify what parts of the
brain might be damaged or working inefficiently.
 These neuropsychologists also work closely with neurosurgeons before
some brain surgeries to localize functions more precisely. For example,
you may have heard that one side of the brain always controls language
or that there are areas specific for speaking or understanding but that’s
not true.
 Neuropsychology specialists with advanced training in post-surgical care
are uniquely equipped to assess the impact of surgery, ensure continuity
of care, and maximize quality of life.

CLINICAL APPLICATION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL

ASSESSMENT:

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT:

“Neuropsychological assessment is a performance-based method to assess

cognitive functioning. This method is used to examine the cognitive
consequences of brain damage, brain disease, and severe mental illness.”

 There are several specific uses of neuropsychological assessment,

including collection of diagnostic information, differential diagnostic
information, assessment of treatment response, and prediction of
functional potential and functional recovery.

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  Neuropsychological assessment is the normatively informed application of
performance-based assessments of various cognitive skills.
 Typically, neuropsychological assessment is performed with a battery
approach, which involves tests of a variety of cognitive ability areas, with
more than one test per ability area. These ability areas include skills such
as memory, attention, processing speed, reasoning, judgment, and
problem-solving, spatial, and language functions.
 The assessment battery can be standardized or targeted to the individual
participant in the assessment. Assessment data may be collected either
directly by a psychologist or by a trained examiner, who performs and
scores assessments and delivers them to the neuropsychologist.
 Neuropsychological tests are intrinsically performance-based. They are
structured to require individuals to exercise their skills in the presence of
an examiner/observer.
 Self-reports of functioning, as well as observations of behavior while
performing testing, are critically important pieces of information, as
described below. Self-reports of functioning are often affected by the
presence of neuropsychiatric conditions and do not have the same value as
performance under standard conditions, which is compared with
normative standards.

FOUR STEPS TO BECOMING A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST:

Step 1

Complete a Degree:

Future neuropsychologists must earn a bachelor's degree as the first step in

their educational training. Most aspiring neuropsychologists major in
psychology or a closely related field.

Step 2

Earn a Graduate Degree

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 Neuropsychologists must hold a related doctorate to apply for licensure.
Some neuropsychologists earn a master's degree before applying to doctoral
programs. This step can help graduate students specialize their training and gain
admission to a competitive doctoral program.

Step 3

Earn a State Licensure

In every state, psychologists who treat patients must hold a license to

practice. Although licensure requirements vary by state, most states require a
doctoral degree from an accredited psychology program, passing scores on a
psychology exam, and around 2,000 hours of supervised experience.

Step 4

Maintain Certification

 Licensed psychologists must maintain their credentials. Many states set

continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Professional
organizations often because the licensure process varies by state,
prospective neuropsychologists should carefully research the
requirements in their state. Neuropsychologists who specialize in research
or pursue academic positions may not need a license.

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APPLICATION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST IN EDUCATION:

 Neuropsychologist experts that work with teachers, students and their

families to offer the support they need to meet their educational needs.
Neuropsychology and emotions in learning
 Having a better understanding of the role that attention, perception,
memory and motivation play in the learning process is a fundamental
aspect that allows us to educate students while respecting their stage of
development.
 Schools need to be aware of how tiredness, diet, exercise and emotions
affect the children and young people that they teach in order to ensure
that learning times, spaces and activities are optimally designed.
 Neuropsychology gives us the keys to be able to understand the
importance of executive functions complex mental activities that we must
use to achieve a goal in learning. These involve attention processes, work
memory, planning (which means organizing), decision-making, process
evaluation, reasoning and cognitive flexibility, the ability to concentrate
on the necessary stimuli and ignore irrelevant distractions or time
management.
 In primary education, it is important for students to develop good
attention, concentration, self-motivation, organization, reasoning and
memory skills. In this sense, our teachers must progressively help
students to evaluate their own learning, strengthening the use of
metacognition in order to make them aware of what they do and do not
know, of how they have learned it and how to apply it in other contexts,
including in their daily lives.

REFERENCES:
 https://www.brainandspine.org.uk/news/what-does-a-neuropsychologist-
do/#:~:text=A%20neuropsychologist%20is%20trained%20to,and%20abil
ity%20to%20process%20information
 https://www.healthline.com/health/neuropsychologist
 https://weillcornellbrainandspine.org/role-neuropsychologists-
neurosurgery
 https://www.viennapsychologicalgroup.com/what-conditions-do-
neuropsychologists-evaluate/
 https://www.advancedpsy.com/documentation/1-what-is-
neuropsychology/
 https://www.mygbhp.com/services/neuropsychological-
testing/#:~:text=The%20field%20comprises%20of%20two,cognitive%20
colleagues%20to%20help%20patient

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