About Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology, a specialized practice of psychology, is the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior, and the application of that knowledge to practical difficulties that people have. A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who has several years of additional training in neuropsychological assessment.


 

Neuropsychological assessment involves specialized tests, which include various paper-and-pencil, puzzle-solving, and problem-solving tasks. These tests indicate how a person's brain is functioning, and whether there are specific strengths and weaknesses in brain function.

The goal is to understand how the individual functions as a whole, determine what is getting in the way of optimal functioning, and identify appropriate treatment strategies.

What's the Difference?

A psychological assessment typically includes tests and observations of intellectual and emotional functioning.

A neuropsychological assessment goes further, including assessment in some or all of the following areas: