Introduction
According Dictionary.com, neuropsychology refers to the branch of psychology that deals with the relationship between the nervous system, especially the brain, and cerebral or mental functions such as language, memory, and perception.
In this assignment we will examine how neuropsychology is defined in all of its contexts in order to understand how it is applied practically, why it is an important sub-discipline within the field of psychology as well as the relevance and significance of knowledge in this field as a registered counsellor. We will explore the historical development of this field as well as the neuropsychological assessments used.
Definitions of Key Terms in the Field
The History of Neuropsychology and How it Developed
The history of neuropsychology dates incredibly far back with some of the first written records dating back to the 1700 B.C and archaeological evidence pointing to perhaps even before that. The artefacts collected by archaeologists in Peru show human skulls with cuts and hole in then, presumably created through a process called Trephanation. This entailed cutting, drilling and carving holes into the skull as part of a surgical treatment to an ailment or sometimes on religious grounds as a way of releasing evil spirits. In Ancient Greece both Aristotle and Socrates formulated theories regarding the mind but it was Hippocrates who was one of the first to correctly infer that the brain was the seat of all intelligence and behind controlling all senses and movement, as well as correctly identifying contralateral control in the brain. Descartes was credited with the development of the concept of mind – body dualism. This philosophy suggested that there was a complete split betwee...
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...ction of the neuropsychologist will be to assess, diagnose and intervene in terms aiding the rehabilitation process with patients who previously were handled by specialists in surrounding fields of Neuropsychology, non of which were fully capable of efficiently dealing with such clients within the confines of their fields.
One of the challenges faced by South Africa is one that is as distinct and unique as the varying cultures and people our country is home to. With such a vast array of people who differ so greatly, it is difficult for neuropsychologists to use neuropsychological assessment tools that have not been developed with a specific social group in mind. Using inappropriate tools thus increases the chances of the results being skewed or incorrect (Lucas, 2011).
Relevance of Knowledge in the Field of Neuropsychology for Registered Counsellors
Conclusion
The World of Psychology. (2002). A Pearson Education Company. Boston, MA: Samuel Wood & Ellen Green Wood p. 593
Kaplan, H. I., Sadock, B. J., & Grebb, J. A. (1994). Synopsis of psychiatry: behavioral sciences,
Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology in the area within psychology that is focused on maladaptive behavior-its causes, consequences, and treatment. Abnormal psychology deals with how it feels to be different, the meanings the get attached to being different, and how society deals with people whom it considers to be different. The spectrum of differences is wide, ranging from reality defying delusions and severe debilitations to worries and behavioral quirks that we would be better off not having but do not significantly interfere with our daily lives. An example of the milder end of the spectrum is a man who was an eminently successful district attorney, was elected governor of New York on three occasions, and was almost elected president of the United States in 1948. This man, Thomas E. Dewy, reached the pinnacle of success, displaying such qualities as rectitude, efficiency, precision, and nearly limitless capacity for hard work.
Rabin et al. [2005] versus “most common” in Camara et al. [2000]), but it seems that neuropsychologists
Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex is the most anterior portion of the frontal lobe. It responds mostly to stimuli signaling the need for movement, however it is also responsible for many other specialized functions. It receives information from all sensory systems and can integrate a large amount of information (Kalat 2004). Studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for working memory. Working memory is defined as "the information that is currently available in memory for working on a problem" (Anderson 2005).
Ciccarelli, S. K., & White, J. N. (2012). Psychology (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
The study of psychology began as a theoretical subject a branch of ancient philosophy, and later as a part of biological sciences and physiology. However, over the years, it has grown into a rigorous science and a separate discipline, with its own sets of guidance and experimental techniques. This paper aims to study the various stages that the science of psychology passed through to reach its contemporary status, and their effects on its development. It begins with an overview of the historical and philosophical basis of psychology, discusses the development of the various schools of thought, and highlights their effects on contemporary personal and professional decision-making.
Levine, B. & Stuss, D. (2002). Adult clinical neuropsychology: lessons from studies of the frontal lobes. Annual Reviews Psychology, 401-433.
The theory our learning team is studying is the psychodynamic approach or what is sometimes called psychoanalytic approach. The main contributors to Psychodynamic approaches was the founder Sigmund Freud (1859-1939), Anna Freud (1895-1982) gave significant contribution to the psychodynamics of adolescence and Erik Erickson (1902-1994) called the “new” Freud but with an emphasis on ego (conscious) forces, termed as psychosocial theory (Craig & Dunn, p 11-13). Psychodynamics is the explanation or interpretation (as of behavior or mental states) in terms of mental or emotional forces or processes (www.merriam-webster.com)
Historically, cognitive psychology was unified by an approach based on an resemblance between the mind and a computer, (Eysenck and Keane, 2010). Cognitive neuroscientists argue convincingly that we need to study the brain while people engage in cognitive tasks. Clearly, the internal processes involved in human cognition occur in the brain, and several sophisticated ways of studying the brain in action, including various imaging techniques, now exist, (Sternberg and Wagner, 1999, page 34).Neuroscience studies how the activity of the brain is correlated with cognitive operations, (Eysenck and Keane, 2010). On the other hand, cognitive neuropsychologists believe that we can draw general conclusions about the way in which the intact mind and brain work from mainly studying the behaviour of neurological patients rather than their physiology, (McCarthy and Warrington, 1990).
Wood, S. Wood, E. Boyd, D. (2014). Mastering the World of Psychology. A. Chow(Ed.). Jersey, NJ: Text.
Mcbride, Carolina. Zuroff, David. Ravitz, Paula. Koestner, Richard. Moskowitz, Debbie. Quilty, Lena. Bagby, Michael. (2010). British Journal of Clinical Psychology. , 49(4), p529-545.
According to Oxford Dictionary online, clinical psychology is, “The branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illnesses and disability” (“Clinical psychology”). While it’s true that a clinical psychologist works to treat and console one’s mental illness and disability, there is much more to what makes a clinical psychologist than what the definition says. To me, being a clinical psychologist means not only helping treat a mental illness but helping the patient cope with different life struggles they may face. A clinical psychologist out of the kindness of their heart opens their ears to people in need and helps them reach a goal of success and happiness.
My paper is based on an article from the text’s web site (chapter 9) entitled “Lack of sleep ages body’s systems.” The basic claim of the article is that sleep deprivation has various harmful effects on the body. The reported effects include decreased ability to metabolize glucose (similar to what occurs in diabetes) and increased levels of cortisol (a stress hormone involved in memory and regulation of blood sugar levels). The article also briefly alludes (in the quote at the bottom of page 1) to unspecified changes in brain and immune functioning with sleep deprivation.
Health Psychologists and Neuropsychologists go together in a way. A health psychologist study how health and illness affect a person’s life, they teach people and medical staff about on psychological is...