Neuropsychology lecture notes
Inhoud
Week 1. ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Lecture 1. 05/01/2026 ................................................................................................................... 2
Lecture 2. 07/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 12
Lecture 3. 09/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 22
Week 2. ............................................................................................................................................... 32
Lecture 4. 12/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 32
Lecture 5. 14/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 38
Lecture 6. 16/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 45
Week 3. ............................................................................................................................................... 49
Lecture 7. 19/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 49
Lecture 8. 21/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 54
Structures of the brain ..................................................................................................................... 64
Brain disorders ................................................................................................................................... 66
,Week 1.
Lecture 1. 05/01/2026
No need to go too deep into the textbook.
A lot of the exam contains the anatomy and brain, with a lot of pictures “what is this…”. The
other 30 questions are on clinical disorders.
What is a neuropsychologist
➢ A clinician and/or scientist who…
o Uses neurology, neuroscience and psychology
o To understand how behaviors correlate with brain function.
o To assess ‘normal’ and ‘impaired’ cognitive, social, physical and emotional
functioning.
➢ Neuropsychology is usually clinical in nature
o Neuropsychologists are not medical doctors.
o Clinical tasks are usually diagnostic
o Referrals to specialists may be given for treatment
o Research tasks may include investigating causes of disorder, its
brain/behavioral/cognitive processes, its diagnostic approaches, the efficacy
of treatments, etc.
Donald Hebb → considered the ‘father of neuropsychology’.
➢ Hebbian theory = neural pathways develop based on experiences; as pathways are
used more, they become faster and stronger.
➢ Early neuropsychology was closely linked to brain injury and dementia research and
diagnosis
o Relationship between loss of brain function and change in thoughts/behaviors
easier to observe.
o Modern neuropsychology includes a variety of disorders.
Neurological examination
➢ Patient’s history
➢ State of awareness
o Alert, drowsy, stupor, confused.
o Speech abnormalities, facial asymmetries, body posture
o Emotions (agitated, anxious, depressed, apathetic, restless)
➢ Physical examination: blood pressure, brain imaging, reflexes, pain, muscle
movement.
➢ Disorders
o Strokes, injuries and lesions may show asymmetry, loss of function.
o Parkinson’s may show loss of smell and motor changes.
o Dementia may show memory loss, disorientation or agitation.
Biopsychosocial model of neuropsychological assessment
➢ Neuropsychological assessment
o Combines many test depending on patient’s symptoms
o May include IQ, cognitive and psychometric
, ➢ Biopsychosocial model: bio, psychology and social world; good biological,
psychological and social health to be considered a healthy person.
o Social support networks (friends, family) influence outcomes
o Patients’ sense of wellbeing influence outcomes.
o Sometimes a mismatch between the patients’ needs and their social network
or environment can add stress that may impair healing.
How did the biopsychosocial model change neuropsychology?
➢ First conceptualized in 1950 by Roy Grinker – applied “bio” to psychology.
➢ Proposed as a medical perspective by George L. Engel in 1977 – applied “social” to
medicine.
➢ Premise: a person is not made of isolated organs, but functions as a whole → you
need biological, social and psychological circumstances to have good mental
health.
The model reflects modern priorities
➢ Neuropsychology began with Hebbian plasticity.
➢ Neuropsychology has become multidimensional
Example from Dementia
➢ Dementia: umbrella term for impaired memory, cognition, and decision-making
o Common causes: Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
o Symptoms include poor mood and perception
▪ May include depression, apathy, and hallucinations
➢ Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
o Used to characterize dementia in the clinic
o Assesses frequency and severity of symptoms
o Assesses changes in behavior
Biopsychosocial perspective in dementia
➢ Usually applied as part of treatment plan
➢ External triggers are assessed through history interview
, o For example: one study found that 80% of dementia symptoms had external
triggers. → social aspect of biopsychosocial model.
➢ Social support and environmental well-being considered in treatment plan.
Biopsychosocial perspective helped lead to other social-clinical models
➢ Part of our social well-being is our cultural fit
o Beliefs from our community shape our experience of medicine
➢ Not all symptoms are symptoms
o Certain beliefs are cultural
o Sometimes hallucinations are even considered culturally appropriate
➢ Cultural formulation interview (CFI): Used to determine whether something is
pathological.
Example from dementia
➢ Might assess whether apparent ‘hallucinations’ or ‘delusions’ are considered odd by
family members.
o Do the experiences described have a cultural place?
➢ Might assess relationship to healthcare system
o Do they believe that Western biomedicine is a valid approach?
o Do they feel safe?
➢ Asking these questions can reduce psychosocial distress for some patients.
It’s not all clinical work: many neuropsychologists are also scientists
➢ Use neuroimaging to study relationship between brain and psychology
➢ Functional neuroanatomy is crucial.
➢ Working knowledge of relevant biological and psychological theories.
➢ May study health and patient populations.
Phineas cage: in 1848 he taught us about regional brain functions. Had lots of brain damage,
mostly to the frontal lobe.
Broca’s aphasia
➢ Loss of grammatical structure
➢ Difficulty forming words or sentences.
➢ Noticed in the clinic:
o Brain lesions observed in frontal lobe.
o Patients often have right-side weakness or paralysis due to lesion’s impact on
motor function.
Brain lesion: area of brain damage
➢ Can result from a stroke, loss of blood flow, tumor, injury, etc.
➢ In an MRI it shows white → damage from reduced blood flow caused by a stroke
(white = dead cells).
How brain lesions lead to the modern understanding of brain function and organization
Inhoud
Week 1. ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Lecture 1. 05/01/2026 ................................................................................................................... 2
Lecture 2. 07/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 12
Lecture 3. 09/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 22
Week 2. ............................................................................................................................................... 32
Lecture 4. 12/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 32
Lecture 5. 14/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 38
Lecture 6. 16/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 45
Week 3. ............................................................................................................................................... 49
Lecture 7. 19/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 49
Lecture 8. 21/01/2026 ................................................................................................................. 54
Structures of the brain ..................................................................................................................... 64
Brain disorders ................................................................................................................................... 66
,Week 1.
Lecture 1. 05/01/2026
No need to go too deep into the textbook.
A lot of the exam contains the anatomy and brain, with a lot of pictures “what is this…”. The
other 30 questions are on clinical disorders.
What is a neuropsychologist
➢ A clinician and/or scientist who…
o Uses neurology, neuroscience and psychology
o To understand how behaviors correlate with brain function.
o To assess ‘normal’ and ‘impaired’ cognitive, social, physical and emotional
functioning.
➢ Neuropsychology is usually clinical in nature
o Neuropsychologists are not medical doctors.
o Clinical tasks are usually diagnostic
o Referrals to specialists may be given for treatment
o Research tasks may include investigating causes of disorder, its
brain/behavioral/cognitive processes, its diagnostic approaches, the efficacy
of treatments, etc.
Donald Hebb → considered the ‘father of neuropsychology’.
➢ Hebbian theory = neural pathways develop based on experiences; as pathways are
used more, they become faster and stronger.
➢ Early neuropsychology was closely linked to brain injury and dementia research and
diagnosis
o Relationship between loss of brain function and change in thoughts/behaviors
easier to observe.
o Modern neuropsychology includes a variety of disorders.
Neurological examination
➢ Patient’s history
➢ State of awareness
o Alert, drowsy, stupor, confused.
o Speech abnormalities, facial asymmetries, body posture
o Emotions (agitated, anxious, depressed, apathetic, restless)
➢ Physical examination: blood pressure, brain imaging, reflexes, pain, muscle
movement.
➢ Disorders
o Strokes, injuries and lesions may show asymmetry, loss of function.
o Parkinson’s may show loss of smell and motor changes.
o Dementia may show memory loss, disorientation or agitation.
Biopsychosocial model of neuropsychological assessment
➢ Neuropsychological assessment
o Combines many test depending on patient’s symptoms
o May include IQ, cognitive and psychometric
, ➢ Biopsychosocial model: bio, psychology and social world; good biological,
psychological and social health to be considered a healthy person.
o Social support networks (friends, family) influence outcomes
o Patients’ sense of wellbeing influence outcomes.
o Sometimes a mismatch between the patients’ needs and their social network
or environment can add stress that may impair healing.
How did the biopsychosocial model change neuropsychology?
➢ First conceptualized in 1950 by Roy Grinker – applied “bio” to psychology.
➢ Proposed as a medical perspective by George L. Engel in 1977 – applied “social” to
medicine.
➢ Premise: a person is not made of isolated organs, but functions as a whole → you
need biological, social and psychological circumstances to have good mental
health.
The model reflects modern priorities
➢ Neuropsychology began with Hebbian plasticity.
➢ Neuropsychology has become multidimensional
Example from Dementia
➢ Dementia: umbrella term for impaired memory, cognition, and decision-making
o Common causes: Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
o Symptoms include poor mood and perception
▪ May include depression, apathy, and hallucinations
➢ Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
o Used to characterize dementia in the clinic
o Assesses frequency and severity of symptoms
o Assesses changes in behavior
Biopsychosocial perspective in dementia
➢ Usually applied as part of treatment plan
➢ External triggers are assessed through history interview
, o For example: one study found that 80% of dementia symptoms had external
triggers. → social aspect of biopsychosocial model.
➢ Social support and environmental well-being considered in treatment plan.
Biopsychosocial perspective helped lead to other social-clinical models
➢ Part of our social well-being is our cultural fit
o Beliefs from our community shape our experience of medicine
➢ Not all symptoms are symptoms
o Certain beliefs are cultural
o Sometimes hallucinations are even considered culturally appropriate
➢ Cultural formulation interview (CFI): Used to determine whether something is
pathological.
Example from dementia
➢ Might assess whether apparent ‘hallucinations’ or ‘delusions’ are considered odd by
family members.
o Do the experiences described have a cultural place?
➢ Might assess relationship to healthcare system
o Do they believe that Western biomedicine is a valid approach?
o Do they feel safe?
➢ Asking these questions can reduce psychosocial distress for some patients.
It’s not all clinical work: many neuropsychologists are also scientists
➢ Use neuroimaging to study relationship between brain and psychology
➢ Functional neuroanatomy is crucial.
➢ Working knowledge of relevant biological and psychological theories.
➢ May study health and patient populations.
Phineas cage: in 1848 he taught us about regional brain functions. Had lots of brain damage,
mostly to the frontal lobe.
Broca’s aphasia
➢ Loss of grammatical structure
➢ Difficulty forming words or sentences.
➢ Noticed in the clinic:
o Brain lesions observed in frontal lobe.
o Patients often have right-side weakness or paralysis due to lesion’s impact on
motor function.
Brain lesion: area of brain damage
➢ Can result from a stroke, loss of blood flow, tumor, injury, etc.
➢ In an MRI it shows white → damage from reduced blood flow caused by a stroke
(white = dead cells).
How brain lesions lead to the modern understanding of brain function and organization
