Clinical neuropsychology: a historical outline
1.1 introduction
Hippocrates (400 BC): taught that all abnormal behaviours and emotions stemmed from the working
of the brain.
Ancient Greeks and Romans: believed that the body contained 4 elements: air, water, fire and earth.
Those elements were served by four humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile. The humours
has to be balanced to prevent a person of illness. were collected in the books of Galen (129-217)
Descartes (1596-1650) soul is undivided, independent, yet immaterial. was located in a cavity
in the head. resulted in debate about interaction between body and soul.
Frans Joseph Gall (1758-1828) mental organs located in the grey matter or cortex of the brain
phernology
Gall’s ideas were tested using clinic-anatomical methof studying cognitive loss of function.
1.2 cell theory
The ancient Greeks distinguished between 3 different forms of soul:
1. survival via food intake
2. activities of an organism in relation to the environment
3. higher-order soul that could distinguish between good and bad
guiding principle.
Highest sol n the brain, Aristotle in heart.
Ventricles were named cells, they are the site of mind. The mind was divided into different functions:
receive information from senses, second cell interpret the image. After that it was stored in the
memory.
Physiognomy interpretation if the face. Appearance was a reflection of character.
1.3 Descartes: an undivided mind
Started of ny doubting everything. I think, therefore I am.
People could be regarded as being composed of 2 substances: body and mind. The mind is not
material, it does not take up any space. The mind was seen as a kind of manager. Throughout the
body, messages about the outside world were received via nerves. And messages were sent back
using memories. reflex.
1.4 Gall and localisation issue
Behaviour was a result of the functioning of the brain phrenology.
1. All psychological functions were innate
2. Each function was concerned an independent organ
3. There were separate organs for language, music etc
4. All functions were located outside of the brain, in the cortex
When you are good at a function it is bigger you can use the bumps to see if the are better in
something.
Flourens did research about this research on alive pigeons.
1.5 the clinic-autonomic method
Bouilland argued that Gall’s fundamental starting point, the idea of localisation, is correct.
language in front part of brain. clinco-anatomical method.
, Broca later presented the patient Mr Leborgne had been in hospital because he could only say
‘Tan’. Lesion in front brain in Broca’s area. (mechanism of pronouncing words)
Charcot believed the same thing.
Wernicke made a distinction between producing language (left frontal lobe) and understanding
language (left temporal lobe).
1.6 Holism
Pierre Marie did not distinguish different forms of aphasia single disorder of language function.
Freud did not believe in localisation. fields of organization that had overlap and coherence.
Goldstein said that functioning of the brain was f paramount importance in order to be able
to reflect on incoming stimuli instead of simply reacting to the abstract attitude.
1.7 Luria: a global model
3 continually interacting functional units activation (subcortical), input (posterior), output
(anterior)
3 hierarchically organised levels of processing, related to primary, secondart and tertiary
zones in the brain
Behaviour that is not regulated by language processes, related to the left and right
hemisphere.
The first functional unit makes sure of alertness and attention: brainstem, diencephalon and medial
areas cerebrum
The second unit cognitive information processing posterior areas lateral cortex
The third unit organise behaviour front of the central fissure, motor, premotor and prefrontal
cortex.
Primary zones are well-establisched projection areas of sense +locomotion occipital, temporal and
postcentral areas in the second unit and the precentral area in the third unit
Secondary zones largely modality specific second unit = assigning meaning and the third is
preparing locomotion
Tertiary zones are all remaining areas 2nd unit is multimodal and cognitive integration. 3 rd unit =
forming intention + evaluation of own behaviour.
1.10 Cognitive neuropsychology
Fodor (language philosopher) believes that language ability is an innate specific property. With
syntax being of paramount importance. We have no awareness if these language processes and we
do not have control over them. module
This view of information processing makes a distinction between representation (the information
that can be processed by a module or produced as output) and process (the calculation)
1.1 introduction
Hippocrates (400 BC): taught that all abnormal behaviours and emotions stemmed from the working
of the brain.
Ancient Greeks and Romans: believed that the body contained 4 elements: air, water, fire and earth.
Those elements were served by four humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile. The humours
has to be balanced to prevent a person of illness. were collected in the books of Galen (129-217)
Descartes (1596-1650) soul is undivided, independent, yet immaterial. was located in a cavity
in the head. resulted in debate about interaction between body and soul.
Frans Joseph Gall (1758-1828) mental organs located in the grey matter or cortex of the brain
phernology
Gall’s ideas were tested using clinic-anatomical methof studying cognitive loss of function.
1.2 cell theory
The ancient Greeks distinguished between 3 different forms of soul:
1. survival via food intake
2. activities of an organism in relation to the environment
3. higher-order soul that could distinguish between good and bad
guiding principle.
Highest sol n the brain, Aristotle in heart.
Ventricles were named cells, they are the site of mind. The mind was divided into different functions:
receive information from senses, second cell interpret the image. After that it was stored in the
memory.
Physiognomy interpretation if the face. Appearance was a reflection of character.
1.3 Descartes: an undivided mind
Started of ny doubting everything. I think, therefore I am.
People could be regarded as being composed of 2 substances: body and mind. The mind is not
material, it does not take up any space. The mind was seen as a kind of manager. Throughout the
body, messages about the outside world were received via nerves. And messages were sent back
using memories. reflex.
1.4 Gall and localisation issue
Behaviour was a result of the functioning of the brain phrenology.
1. All psychological functions were innate
2. Each function was concerned an independent organ
3. There were separate organs for language, music etc
4. All functions were located outside of the brain, in the cortex
When you are good at a function it is bigger you can use the bumps to see if the are better in
something.
Flourens did research about this research on alive pigeons.
1.5 the clinic-autonomic method
Bouilland argued that Gall’s fundamental starting point, the idea of localisation, is correct.
language in front part of brain. clinco-anatomical method.
, Broca later presented the patient Mr Leborgne had been in hospital because he could only say
‘Tan’. Lesion in front brain in Broca’s area. (mechanism of pronouncing words)
Charcot believed the same thing.
Wernicke made a distinction between producing language (left frontal lobe) and understanding
language (left temporal lobe).
1.6 Holism
Pierre Marie did not distinguish different forms of aphasia single disorder of language function.
Freud did not believe in localisation. fields of organization that had overlap and coherence.
Goldstein said that functioning of the brain was f paramount importance in order to be able
to reflect on incoming stimuli instead of simply reacting to the abstract attitude.
1.7 Luria: a global model
3 continually interacting functional units activation (subcortical), input (posterior), output
(anterior)
3 hierarchically organised levels of processing, related to primary, secondart and tertiary
zones in the brain
Behaviour that is not regulated by language processes, related to the left and right
hemisphere.
The first functional unit makes sure of alertness and attention: brainstem, diencephalon and medial
areas cerebrum
The second unit cognitive information processing posterior areas lateral cortex
The third unit organise behaviour front of the central fissure, motor, premotor and prefrontal
cortex.
Primary zones are well-establisched projection areas of sense +locomotion occipital, temporal and
postcentral areas in the second unit and the precentral area in the third unit
Secondary zones largely modality specific second unit = assigning meaning and the third is
preparing locomotion
Tertiary zones are all remaining areas 2nd unit is multimodal and cognitive integration. 3 rd unit =
forming intention + evaluation of own behaviour.
1.10 Cognitive neuropsychology
Fodor (language philosopher) believes that language ability is an innate specific property. With
syntax being of paramount importance. We have no awareness if these language processes and we
do not have control over them. module
This view of information processing makes a distinction between representation (the information
that can be processed by a module or produced as output) and process (the calculation)
