Localization of Clinical Syndromes in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience

Localization refers to the relationship between the anatomical structures of the brain and their corresponding psychological or behavioral functions. Throughout the history of neuropsychology, there has been considerable debate over how localized mental functions truly are. By the mid-20th century, a formidable amount of evidence strongly supported the "modularity hypothesis" that psychological functions such as language and memory reside in specific neuroanatomical areas. Recent neuroimaging studies suggest a more holistic view - that psychological functions are distributed and dynamically organized across multiple brain regions. This book attempts to reconcile the classic and modern approaches, arguing that newer imaging techniques must be used in conjunction with, rather than replace, traditional neuropsychology approaches such as interviewing, testing, and autopsy exams. Only by triangulating these approaches can neuropsychologists begin to understand the complex relationship between brain structure and mental function that is exhibited across the spectrum of neurological disorders. The perspective offered by Drs. Tonkonogy and Puente on this philosophical and scientific debate is a provocative counterargument to current research that overemphasizes imaging studies to the exclusion of other useful techniques. Key features: Offers systematic descriptions of the clinical manifestations, anatomical data, and history of the various approaches to neuropsychological syndromes Differentiates syndromes characterized by disturbances of conventional versus unconventional information processing Examines both traditional and modern approaches to new neuropsychological syndromes of social agnosia, social apraxia, and agnosia of actions, as well as memory disorders, visual disorders, and more An indispensable resource for clinicians and researchers in neuropsychology and neuroscience, this book serves as a solid frame of reference for the localization of clinical neuropsychological symptoms.

About the Author

Antonio E. Puente, PhD is Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Joseph M. Tonkonogy, MD, PhD, FRSM is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts.