Clinical neuropsychology typically employs large standardized test-batteries to cover the cognitive deficits caused by brain lesions and neurodegenerative diseases. The neuropsychologist moves between three levels of explanation; the behavioral level, the cognitive level and the brain level. The behavioral level is measured as actual performance on a test, i. e. the obtained test score. The cognitive level refers to the underlying cognitive processes that are reflected in the test scores. The brain level, finally, refers to the neural underpinnings and substrates to the cognitive processes. The recent decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in our knowledge about cognitive processes and the underlying neural substrates. Experimental techniques and paradigms have played an important role in the accumulation of new knowledge in this field. Thus, there is a need to present a collection of experimental paradigms and techniques to neuropsychology. Some of these paradigms and techniques have however a long history in neuropsychology, like dichotic listening and EEG measures, while others are new and novel to most neuropsychologists like animal model paradigms and brain imaging and brain stimulation. Experimental techniques typically aim at discovery of causal relationships and with a focus on search for mechanisms. In the first chapter, Merill Hiscock presents an overview of experimental techniques and its adaptation in clinical neuropsychology, with a focus on behavioral techniques and methods.

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Editors and Affiliations

University of Bergen, Norway

Kenneth Hugdahl

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Experimental Methods in Neuropsychology
Editors: Kenneth Hugdahl
Series Title: Neuropsychology and Cognition
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1163-2
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive
Copyright Information: Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4020-7210-9Published: 31 October 2002
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4613-5423-9Published: 23 October 2012
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4615-1163-2Published: 06 December 2012
Series ISSN: 0927-0116
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XII, 235
Topics: Neuropsychology, Neurology, Methodology of the Social Sciences, Cognitive Psychology

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

Front Matter

Back Matter

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