Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections

Theory building in neuropsychology, similar to other disciplines, rests on metatheoretical assumptions of philosophical origin. Such assumptions regarding the relation of psychological and physiological variables influence research methodologies as well as assessment strategies in fields of applicat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Josh Joseph Ramminger, Martin Peper, Alexander Nicolai Wendt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1170283/full
_version_ 1797612237301481472
author Josh Joseph Ramminger
Josh Joseph Ramminger
Martin Peper
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
author_facet Josh Joseph Ramminger
Josh Joseph Ramminger
Martin Peper
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
author_sort Josh Joseph Ramminger
collection DOAJ
description Theory building in neuropsychology, similar to other disciplines, rests on metatheoretical assumptions of philosophical origin. Such assumptions regarding the relation of psychological and physiological variables influence research methodologies as well as assessment strategies in fields of application. Here, we revisit the classic procedure of Double Dissociation (DD) to illustrate the connection of metatheory and methodology. In a seemingly unbridgeable opposition, the classical neuropsychological procedure of DD can be understood as either presupposing localizationism and a modular view of the brain, or as a special case of the generalized neuro-lens model for neuropsychological assessment. In the latter case, it is more easily compatible with a perspective that emphasizes the systemic-network, rather than the modular, nature of the brain, which as part of the organism, proportionately mediates the situatedness of the human being in the world. This perspective not only makes it possible to structure ecological validation processes and give them a metatheoretical foundation, but also to interlace it with the phenomenological insight that the laboratory as one context of empirical research may be analyzed in terms of situated experience. We conclude with showing that both the localizationist and the system science approach can agree on a view of the brain as a dynamical network, and that metatheory may thus offer important new perspectives of reconciliation.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T06:39:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f641b11223694a1fafac3037fc21e48e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1664-1078
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T06:39:26Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj.art-f641b11223694a1fafac3037fc21e48e2023-11-17T10:44:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-11-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11702831170283Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflectionsJosh Joseph Ramminger0Josh Joseph Ramminger1Martin Peper2Alexander Nicolai Wendt3Alexander Nicolai Wendt4Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, University of Marburg, Marburg, GermanyFaculty of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, GermanyTheory building in neuropsychology, similar to other disciplines, rests on metatheoretical assumptions of philosophical origin. Such assumptions regarding the relation of psychological and physiological variables influence research methodologies as well as assessment strategies in fields of application. Here, we revisit the classic procedure of Double Dissociation (DD) to illustrate the connection of metatheory and methodology. In a seemingly unbridgeable opposition, the classical neuropsychological procedure of DD can be understood as either presupposing localizationism and a modular view of the brain, or as a special case of the generalized neuro-lens model for neuropsychological assessment. In the latter case, it is more easily compatible with a perspective that emphasizes the systemic-network, rather than the modular, nature of the brain, which as part of the organism, proportionately mediates the situatedness of the human being in the world. This perspective not only makes it possible to structure ecological validation processes and give them a metatheoretical foundation, but also to interlace it with the phenomenological insight that the laboratory as one context of empirical research may be analyzed in terms of situated experience. We conclude with showing that both the localizationist and the system science approach can agree on a view of the brain as a dynamical network, and that metatheory may thus offer important new perspectives of reconciliation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1170283/fullneuropsychological assessmentlense model paradigm in neuropsychologyphilosophy of sciencephenomenological psychologymetatheoryecological validity
spellingShingle Josh Joseph Ramminger
Josh Joseph Ramminger
Martin Peper
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
Alexander Nicolai Wendt
Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
Frontiers in Psychology
neuropsychological assessment
lense model paradigm in neuropsychology
philosophy of science
phenomenological psychology
metatheory
ecological validity
title Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
title_full Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
title_fullStr Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
title_full_unstemmed Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
title_short Neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited: metatheoretical reflections
title_sort neuropsychological assessment methodology revisited metatheoretical reflections
topic neuropsychological assessment
lense model paradigm in neuropsychology
philosophy of science
phenomenological psychology
metatheory
ecological validity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1170283/full
work_keys_str_mv AT joshjosephramminger neuropsychologicalassessmentmethodologyrevisitedmetatheoreticalreflections
AT joshjosephramminger neuropsychologicalassessmentmethodologyrevisitedmetatheoreticalreflections
AT martinpeper neuropsychologicalassessmentmethodologyrevisitedmetatheoreticalreflections
AT alexandernicolaiwendt neuropsychologicalassessmentmethodologyrevisitedmetatheoreticalreflections
AT alexandernicolaiwendt neuropsychologicalassessmentmethodologyrevisitedmetatheoreticalreflections