Links between clinical and experimental neuropsychology

Abstract

The goals of both experimental and clinical neuropsychology involve qualitative analyses of the behavioral sequelae of brain damage in humans. Both of these subdisciplines attempt to delineate and clarify perceptual, cognitive, linguistic, affective, and other changes in individuals with neurological disease – particularly as these disorders contribute to our understanding of normal brain function and its modification by pathology. Thus, an interest in brain-behavior relations is coupled with diagnostic studies of brain-damaged individuals. Frequently, this collaboration leads to increased awareness of pathological symptomatology. Sometimes it leads to important insights about the nature of normal cognitive abilities, and to improved therapeutic outcomes for individual patients themselves.