Principles of Human Neuropsychology

by Rains, G. Dennis

• ISBN13: 9781559346238
• ISBN10: 155934623X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-30
• Publisher: MCG

Summary

This accessible undergraduate text is the first to make teaching the neuropsychology course easier. Rains provides adequate depth and explanatory material to inspire student interest and motivation, and his in-depth approach not only makes the material easier for students to grasp, but reveals the exciting questions of the field remaining to be answered. PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY’s other hallmark is to foster an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of neuropsychology by employing a levels of analysis approach—from single cell recording to the effects of large lesions.

Table of Contents

1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY / Early Attempts at Understanding the Brain / The Beginnings of Modern Neuropsychology: Broca / Further Discoveries: Wernicke / Localization Versus Holism / The Psychometric Approach to Neuropsychology / Recent Findings] / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

2. NEURAL MECHANISMS AT THE MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR LEVELS / The Adaptive Significance of the Nervous System / The Capacity for Modulation: The Neuron and the Synapse / Neural Activity at the Molecular and Cellular Levels / Neuronal Mechanisms of Learning / Two Exceptions to General Rules: Receptor Potentials and Electrical Transmission / Summary

3. INTRODUCTION TO THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM / General Terminology / An Overview of the Central Nervous System / The Forebrain / The Brain Stem / The Cerebellum / The Spinal Cord / Summary / References / Figure Citations / Figures and Tables

4. METHODS IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY / Anatomical Methods / Methods Measuring Function / Lesion Methods / Commissurotomy / The Sodium Amobarbital Test / Studies of People with Behavioral and Cognitive Abnormalities / Studies of Normal People: Laterality Studies / Summary / References / Figure and Table Captions / Figures and Tables

5. THE VISUAL SYSTEM AS A MODEL OF NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTIONING / The Classical Sequential-Hierarchical View of the Visual Brain / An Overview of Recent Advances in the Understanding of Central Visual Processing / The Retina / Retinofugal Projections / Specialization Within Cortex Devoted to Vision / The Microanatomy of the Visual Brain and the Concept of Modular Organization / The Problem of Integration and the Construction of a Representation of the Visual World / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

6. LANGUAGE / Characteristics of Language / The Development of Language in Children: “Nature Versus Nurture” / Language Disorders: The Concept of Aphasia / The Disconnection Syndrome Hypothesis Applied to Language Disorders / Major Components of Language Functioning / Further Theoretical Considerations / The Right Hemisphere and Language / Hemispheric Anatomical Asymmetries / The Evolution of Human Language / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

7. SPATIAL PROCESSING / General Considerations / Body Space / Egocentric Space / Allocentric Space / The Role of the Hippocampus in Spatial Processing / Neglect of One Side of Space / Spatial Thinking and Mental Imagery / The Role of the Frontal Lobes in Spatial Processing / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

8. VISUAL RECOGNITION / A Case of Visual Agnosia / Disorders of Visual Recognition / Problems with the Classical Model / Theories of Visual Agnosia / Restoration of Sight in Adulthood After Early Onset of Blindness / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

9. VOLUNTARY ACTION / Voluntary Movement / The Components of Voluntary Movement / Elementary Disorders of Movement / An Overview of Higher-Order Control of Movement / The Motor Cortex / The Premotor and Supplementary Motor Areas / The Cerebellum / The Basal Ganglia / Apraxia and the Left Parietal Cortex / Other Movement-Related Functions of Parietal Cortex / The Prefrontal Cortex / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

10. MEMORY SYSTEMS / An Overview of Normal Memory / Medial Temproal-Lobe Amnesia and the Consolidation Hypothesis / Memory Impairment After Unilateral Temporal-Lobe Lesions / The Critical Structures Involved in Memory Loss After Tempral-Lobe Lesions / Diencephalic Amnesia / Where in the Memory Process is the Impairment? / Preserved Aspects of Memory in Amnesia / Episodic Memory and Semantic Memory / Short-Term/Working Memory Impairment / Conceptualization of Multiple Memory Systems / The Neural Substrate of Long-Term Memory / Further Considerations of the Role of the Frontal Lobes in Memory / Summary / Footnotes / References / Figure Captions / Tables / Figures

11. EMOTION / Theories of the Relationship Between Brain and Emotion / The Neural Basis of Learned Fear as a Model System / Emotional Memory / The Cortex and Emotion / The Interaction of Cortex and Amygdala in the Higher-Order Mediation of Emotion / Emotion and Conscious Experience / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

12. THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX AND THE HIGHER-ORDER REGULATION OF BEHAVIOR / Toward a Working Model of Prefrontal Cortex Function / Impairment in Function After Prefrontal Lesions in Humans / Theories of Prefrontal Function / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

13. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY / What Is Psychopathology? / The Schizophrenic Disorders / Mood Disorders / Anxiety Disorders / Sociopathy / Dementing Diseases / Unsolved Problems / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

14. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY / Development of the Brain / Brain Development and the Development of Higher-Order Function / The Cortex and Emotion / Known Causes of Developmental Abnormality / Developmental Disorders of Unknown Cause / Autism / Summary / References / Figure Captions / Figures

15. RECOVERY OF FUNCTION / The Effects of Brain Damage / Functional Recovery After Brain Damage / Neural Mechanisms of Recovery of Function / Therapeutic Approaches to the Consequences of Brain Lesions / Summary / References / Tables / Figure Captions / Figures

EPILOGUE / Skepticism about the Possibility of a Unified Theory of Mind-Brain / The Possibility of Intertheoretic Reduction and a Unified Theory of Mind-Brain / Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going? / References