Case study approach in neuropsychological research

Abstract

The contribution of the neurological case study approach for establishing the functional organisation of cognitive subsystems is assessed. A number of potential problems are considered, including “resource artefacts”, the nature of the lengthy clinical/experimental procedure used, statistical selection artefacts, reorganisation of function, atypical lateralisation, and the existence of associated deficits. It is argued that, despite these problems, the case study approach is the most promising neuropsychological technique for providing information on the functional organisation of cognitive subsystems.