Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look
Neuropsychological research aims to contribute to our understanding of brain function through the study of the effects of nervous system damage on cognitive performance. A focus on dichotomies has led to theoretical models dominated by binary distinctions in function and localization. Such models ar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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InterOPTICS
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/24 |
| _version_ | 1818489159558365184 |
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| author | Athanasios Protopapas |
| author_facet | Athanasios Protopapas |
| author_sort | Athanasios Protopapas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neuropsychological research aims to contribute to our understanding of brain function through the study of the effects of nervous system damage on cognitive performance. A focus on dichotomies has led to theoretical models dominated by binary distinctions in function and localization. Such models are occasionally applied to the study of developmental disorders, carrying over neuropsychological contrasts between putatively affected vs. intact domains. This counterproductive approach overlooks the developmental nature of functional system formation through constant interaction with the environment and consequent computational self-organization. Conceptual and empirical dead-ends arising from the neuropsychological approach become evident when, for example, distinctions originating in the study of acquired aphasias and dyslexias are applied to the study of language and reading development, respectively. By reversing the explanatory direction, a focus on developmental processes and on the gradual acquisition of functions and skills may support novel approaches to the description and explanation of acquired disorders, potentially improving the explanatory validity of theoretical neuropsychological models. Achieving this goal would seem to require a change of viewpoint and a close collaboration among neuropsychological and developmental approaches and traditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:00:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a50ab393cc49459ca2dbaf86babf94ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2585-2795 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:00:05Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | InterOPTICS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a50ab393cc49459ca2dbaf86babf94ca2022-12-22T01:40:36ZengInterOPTICSDialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health2585-27952018-05-011s110.26386/obrela.v1i0.2424Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist lookAthanasios ProtopapasNeuropsychological research aims to contribute to our understanding of brain function through the study of the effects of nervous system damage on cognitive performance. A focus on dichotomies has led to theoretical models dominated by binary distinctions in function and localization. Such models are occasionally applied to the study of developmental disorders, carrying over neuropsychological contrasts between putatively affected vs. intact domains. This counterproductive approach overlooks the developmental nature of functional system formation through constant interaction with the environment and consequent computational self-organization. Conceptual and empirical dead-ends arising from the neuropsychological approach become evident when, for example, distinctions originating in the study of acquired aphasias and dyslexias are applied to the study of language and reading development, respectively. By reversing the explanatory direction, a focus on developmental processes and on the gradual acquisition of functions and skills may support novel approaches to the description and explanation of acquired disorders, potentially improving the explanatory validity of theoretical neuropsychological models. Achieving this goal would seem to require a change of viewpoint and a close collaboration among neuropsychological and developmental approaches and traditions.http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/24 |
| spellingShingle | Athanasios Protopapas Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health |
| title | Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look |
| title_full | Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look |
| title_fullStr | Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look |
| title_short | Neuropsychology and development: A revisionist look |
| title_sort | neuropsychology and development a revisionist look |
| url | http://www.obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/24 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT athanasiosprotopapas neuropsychologyanddevelopmentarevisionistlook |