What does the field of neuropsychology study?
A) Behavior of people with brain damage
B) Electrical responses of the nervous system
C) Higher mental processes
D) Sequences of mental operations involved in cognition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Neuropsychology studies the behavior of people with brain damage, such as those who have suffered a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or degenerative neurological disease. It aims to understand how specific areas of the brain are involved in different cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions, and how damage to these areas can affect a person's abilities and experiences.

Answer: B
 While neuropsychology focuses primarily on behavior and cognition, it often involves the use of neuroimaging tools such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to gain insight into the electrical and metabolic activity of the nervous system. By analyzing patterns of brain activity during specific tasks or tests, researchers can better understand the underlying neural mechanisms involved in different functions.

Answer: A and B
 Neuropsychology seeks to understand the relationship between brain structure and function and behavior, which involves studying both the observable behaviors of people with brain damage and the underlying biological processes involved in the nervous system. While higher mental processes (such as decision-making and problem-solving) and the sequences of mental operations involved in cognition are important areas of study within neuropsychology, they are not the sole focus of the field.

What Does the Field of Neuropsychology Study