Applied Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology developed out of neurology, the treatment of patients with central neurological problems. Since the 1970s the functional understanding of the systems underlying cognitive processes such as memory, language, vision and problem-solving has been aided by both the application of, and development of theories following work on patients. Three decades on, the field is beginning to go full circle by the application of cognitive neuropsychology to the assessment and treatment of patients. The paper by Wilson is a classic demonstration of using Baddeley & Hitch’s theoretically developed Working Memory model to understand very specific memory problems in two single cases. Wilson also goes on to talk about the development of the ‘errorless learning’ technique for application to rehabilitation. This theme is taken on by Haslam & Hodder in a study that compared different rehabilitation techniques in the treatment of memory-impaired adults finding that errorless learning should be the technique of choice. The final two papers fittingly move research and future clinical work forwards by the use of new technologies. Jansari et al. have developed an assessment of dysexecutive problems that involves role-playing in a laptop Virtual Reality (VR) environment which is both ecologically-valid and provides the clinician or researcher a large array of measures of problems classically seen in this condition; this assessment has been able to reveal deficits in patients who have passed standard clinical tests. Meanwhile, Berry et al. show it may be possible to use a specially developed camera worn around the neck which responds to each sensory change in the environment by taking a photograph. The series of generated photographs is then played back to the participant in an attempt to consolidate any fading visual memorial traces. Their findings show that this method has far stronger benefits relative to other methods such as reviewing written diaries. In sum, the symposium is a clear demonstration of how it is possible to use experimentally-driven work in an applied manner in the assessment and treatment of neurological patients.

Convenor: Ashok Jansari

Paper 1 - Barbara A Wilson
"The application of neuropsychological theory to clinical practice"

Paper 2 - Emma Berry
"Using SenseCam, a wearable camera, to alleviate autobiographical memory loss"

Paper 3 - Catherine Haslam
"The method of choice in memory rehabilitation: Errorless learning, vanishing cues or spaced retrieval?"

Paper 4 - Ashok Jansari
"In search of an ecologically valid measure of the Dysexecutive Syndrome: Can vitrual reality help in rehabilitation?"

Discussant - Ashok Jansari