Neuropsychology is a branch of general psychology that is concerned with how the brain and the rest of the nervous system influence cognition and behavior. Professionals in this branch make it a goal to understand of how the brain influences cognitive functions and behavior. In fact, modern neuropsychology has roots that began in the 19th century. During this time, some of the first neuropsychologists studied animals and humans with brain and nervous system injuries. The significance of neuropsychology is subject to urgent brain trauma, which could cause complete loss of functionality of the body. The study of neuropsychology helps doctors understand how brain malfunctions occur.
Neuropsychologists can work in many different settings, mainly laboratories, hospitals, clinics, courts, colleges and universities, rehabilitation centers, government research facilities, or private practice. Doctors who work in labs plan and perform experiments with subjects that are both healthy and ill in order to compare how their brains function. Some jobs may also include working hands on with patients in need of treatment; performing research into the inner
…show more content…
The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) predict, “The overall field of psychology itself with grow at an average rate of 11% through the year 2022.” Statistics show that two million people each year suffer from brain injury. Because of this, the demand for qualifying neuropsychologists is expected to remain strong and steady. As a further matter, increasing interest in the brain and its functionalities, as well as improving imaging technology is also a factor to making the demand for works to rapidly grow over the next decade or two, as well as increasing numbers of older adults who are more likely to Alzheimer’s, dementia, and stroke will also impact the need for more
Dr. Correia has done many internships and fellowships in multiple places. Before acquiring his Doctorate, Dr. Correia had an internship at the Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida for a year. After getting his Ph.D. he had two fellowships at the Brown Medical School dealing with Neuropsychology and Dementia Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. Dr. Correia has been awarded countless times including his most recent Outstanding Teaching Award in Psychology at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University.
I intend to explore the effects of a parietal brain injury from the perspective of a neuropsychologist; ranging from types of tests that are employed when trying to determine the extent of the damage, to gaining an understanding of how this damage will affect the rest of the brain and/or the body. I will also explore the effects of a brain injury from the perspective of the family members, and their experiences with the changes that occur during the rehabilitation process. According to The Neuropsychology Center, “neuropsychological assessment is a systematic clinical diagnostic procedure used to determine the extent of any possible behavioral deficits following diagnosed or suspected brain injury”(www.neuropsych.com). As mentioned previously, a brain injury can be the result of many types of injuries or disorders, thus a broad range of assessment procedures have been developed to encompass these possibilities.
Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2013). Careers in psychology: opportunities in a changing world. (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth.
As a Psychiatrist, they are to proficiently understand the function of the human mind to be able to penetrate into their patient’s thoughts and feelings. These medical doctors are required to spend approximately twelve years gaining a better insight into the complex structure of the brain. They are trained to understand how specific sections of the brain work together to achieve varieties of functions and how a mutation can cause a severe malfunction (Zorumski and Rubin). As a result of the years spent training, Psychiatrists are to differentiate and categorize physical and psychosomatic stress caused by chemical changes in the special parts of the brain. Psychiatrists are also trained to use neurotic technologies such as deep brain stimulation. Additionally, the medical doctors are equi...
McCarthy, R., Warrington, E. (1990), Cognitive Neuropsychology: A Clinical Introduction. San Diego: Academic Press Ltd.
The effects of trauma on the functioning of the brain is an expanding subject of research and treatment. Trauma can change the chemistry of the brain and disrupt normal human functioning. Information in this section has been taken from the works of Judith Lewis Hermann, MD, Robert Scaer,
Cognitive psychology is the study of the brains internal processes that guide behaviour; to study cognition, psychologists examine case studies of patients with damaged brains that can infer areas, and functions involved in particular processes. Patient studies have provided insights into the processes that take place within our minds, and have enabled psychologists to create models, which can be tested and fractionated. Cognitive neuropsychology has developed from cognitive psychology to become a discipline in its own right; it investigates the function and structures of the brain involved in cognitive processes and should not be confused with cognitive neuroscience, which is primarily concerned with neural structures and their functions.
Clinical psychologists can treat a wide range of patients, from mental disorders to emotional problems. To get an easier and simpler idea of what a clinical psychologist does, Ferguson's Career Guidance Center's definition gives a good picture of a clinical psychologist’s job description, “Clinical psychologists concern themselves with people's mental and emotional disorders. They assess and treat problems ranging from normal psychological crises, such as adolescent rebellion or middle-age loss of self-esteem, to extreme conditions, such as severe depression and schizophrenia.”According to Careers in Psychology, a clinical psychologist has three main jobs, to assess the patient, diagnose disorders, and recommend a possible treatment. When a clinical psychologist assesses a patient it usually involv...
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior. In psychology, and all of the other sciences, relying on opinions is abandoned in order to find out which explanations best fit the evidence or data given. Science continually forces us to question our findings and conclusions. Over time, psychology has advanced greatly and a main reason for such progressiveness is because of the change in the research model used.
Clinical psychology can be defined as the “branch of psychology that concerns itself with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and disability”. Therefore, a clinical psychologist assesses patients for any behavioral, emotional, and/or mental problems and then make a diagnosis and develop a treatment for the patient. They nurse personal issues that patients have and also help with chronic and severe conditions. The requirements to be a clinical psychologist include a master’s degree, but a doctorate is sometimes necessary. Many states require a state license, professional work experience, and in specific states such as New Jersey, to be fluent in Spanish. Many employers looking for clinical psychologists require them to have great communication skills and be trustworthy. The treatment of a patient usually starts off with an interview with the patient and sometimes with their families. After seeing how the family and individual acts in that group setting, the psychologist then evaluates their mental space. Finally, they work with a medical personnel to consider what the best treatment for the patient will be. Before entering into a career, you should always research the requirements and pros and cons. What are the pros and cons of studying a clinical psychology and being a clinical psychologist? A
As the human body goes through different experiences, the brain grows, develops, and changes according to the environmental situations it has been exposed to. Some of these factors include drugs, stress, hormones, diets, and sensory stimuli. [1] Neuroplasticity can be defined as the ability of the nervous system to respond to natural and abnormal stimuli experienced by the human body. The nervous system then reorganizes the brain’s structure and changes some of its function to theoretically repair itself by forming new neurons. [2] Neuroplasticity can occur during and in response to many different situations that occur throughout life. Some examples of these situations are learning, diseases, and going through therapy after an injury.
A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specializes in studying brain behavior relationships. Neuropsychologists have extensive training in the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system. Some neuropsychologists specialize in research while other neuropsychologists specialize in evaluating and treating people who are thought to have something wrong with the way in which their nervous system is functioning.
Among the numerous components in the human body, the brain ranks superior due to its vital role in maintaining a suitable environment for life to continue. Injuries and conditions that affect this system have the ability to cause severe and life-threatening damage, which is why doctors that specialize in this field of medicine are so indispensable to healthcare institutions. According to healthline.com, a neurologist is a physician who has undergone additional training to diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain and the nerves that send signals to allow the body to function properly. However, many neurologists specialize in more specific conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. They can also treat injuries such as concussions or strokes. Additionally, a neurologist can work as a reference for other physicians by advising them about the effects of certain medical conditions like AIDS or substances such as drugs and alcohol on the nervous system. (Hoyle)
Antidepressant drugs are designed to correct the imbalance. Sutton believes that feedback between his brain machine and MRI pictures of the brain at work will provide more insight not only of depression and Alzheimer's, but of stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders that affect large areas of the brain. In one experiment, he and his colleagues looked at pictures of brains while their owners did simple motor tasks, such as tapping their fingers in simple and complex patterns. As expected, they saw activity in small networks of cells located in brain areas that control movements.
Like any other science, psychology is concerned with theories and data. Psychologists use a wide range of research methods and techniques that allow them to gather and make sense of the data that they produce. The methods that psychologists use to research and analyse the experience and behaviours of individuals or groups are called psychological research methods. This essay will be investigating and analysing three research methods to include; experimental, observational and surveys, also, reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses of each in addition to their usefulness in the psychology field.