Antonio E. Puente – författare

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:

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.

During the twentieth century, new neurobehavioral diseases appeared or were described for the first time. Exposure to certain toxins or noxious environments, for example, produced illnesses that did not exist before the twentieth century. In addition, established illnesses were reconceptualized with regard to their cause or neurobiological basis. Autism, for instance, was described for the first time during the twentieth century and may not have existed previously. Its cause was subsequently reconceptualized from a disorder related to inadequate parenting, to a brain disorder with possible genetic causes.

These major new and reconceptualized disorders are reviewed in this book with regard to their neurocognitive characteristics, causes, and outcome. Disorders covered include ADHD in adults, Lewy Body Dementia, autism, multiple chemical sensitivity, deployment syndromes found in veterans of the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan wars, effects of low birth weight, neurobehavioral respiratory disorders, PTSD, and comorbid disorders such as depression and brain injury.

The expert reviews of these disorders give balanced coverage of the ongoing and often controversial research findings that continue to generate much professional and public interest. This volume provides an essential resource for researchers, instructors, and clinicians in the fields of neuropsychology, psychiatry, behavioral neurology, neuroscience, toxicology, as well as the informed general public concerned and affected by these disorders.

During the twentieth century, new neurobehavioral diseases appeared or were described for the first time. Exposure to certain toxins or noxious environments, for example, produced illnesses that did not exist before the twentieth century. In addition, established illnesses were reconceptualized with regard to their cause or neurobiological basis. Autism, for instance, was described for the first time during the twentieth century and may not have existed previously. Its cause was subsequently reconceptualized from a disorder related to inadequate parenting, to a brain disorder with possible genetic causes.

These major new and reconceptualized disorders are reviewed in this book with regard to their neurocognitive characteristics, causes, and outcome. Disorders covered include ADHD in adults, Lewy Body Dementia, autism, multiple chemical sensitivity, deployment syndromes found in veterans of the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan wars, effects of low birth weight, neurobehavioral respiratory disorders, PTSD, and comorbid disorders such as depression and brain injury.

The expert reviews of these disorders give balanced coverage of the ongoing and often controversial research findings that continue to generate much professional and public interest. This volume provides an essential resource for researchers, instructors, and clinicians in the fields of neuropsychology, psychiatry, behavioral neurology, neuroscience, toxicology, as well as the informed general public concerned and affected by these disorders.