Cognitive Neuropsychology
Introduction
Cognitive neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that aims to understand how the structure and function of the brain relates to specific psychological processes. Cognitive neuropsychology places a particular emphasis on studying the cognitive effects of brain injury or neurological illness with a view to inferring models of normal cognitive functioning. Evidence is based on case studies of individual brain damaged patients who show deficits in brain areas and from patients who exhibit double dissociations.
History
Cognitive neuropsychology has its roots in the neuropsychology movement of the 19th century, which sought to link the behavior of individuals with the condition of their brains. The first cognitive neuropsychologists, including Alexander Romanovich Luria, began by studying the effects of injuries to the brain on cognitive functions and observed that damage to specific areas of the brain resulted in distinct impairments to cognition and behavior.
Cognitive Neuropsychological Method
The cognitive neuropsychological method involves relating cognitive theories to patient data through the development of functional models of normal cognitive processes. These models are then used to predict performance in individuals with damaged cognitive systems. The method has been particularly useful in developing our understanding of perception, memory, language, and attention.
Perception
Perception in cognitive neuropsychology is studied by examining the cognitive processes involved in the interpretation of sensory information. Research in this area often involves studying patients with perceptual deficits resulting from brain damage. For example, studies of patients with visual agnosia have significantly contributed to our understanding of object recognition.
Memory
Memory is another core area of study in cognitive neuropsychology. Researchers in this field study patients with various types of amnesia to understand how different memory systems are organized and function. For instance, studies of patients with anterograde amnesia, who cannot form new memories, have been instrumental in developing theories about the processes involved in encoding and storing information.
Language
Language is a complex cognitive function that has been extensively studied in cognitive neuropsychology. This field has benefited greatly from the study of patients with aphasia, a condition characterized by language deficits resulting from brain damage. These studies have helped to map the brain areas involved in different aspects of language processing and production.
Attention
Attention, the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things, has been another important area of study in cognitive neuropsychology. Studies of patients with attention deficits, such as those with hemispatial neglect, have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of attention.
Future Directions
The future of cognitive neuropsychology lies in the integration of its theories and methods with those of other disciplines in cognitive neuroscience, such as cognitive neurobiology and cognitive neuropsychiatry. This will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the brain and the cognitive processes it supports.