Neuropsychological Evaluation

You have come across various types of tests used in psychology during the lectures of ‘Basic Psychological Processes’ course. Here the focus would be on neuropsychological evaluation, but before we go through it let us first understand the nature of difference between tests, assessments and neuropsychological evaluation. For details you can refer to books on psychological testing.
Tests are instruments specially designed to measures unobservable psychological constructs such as cognitive functions. It could have a set of activities (tasks) or even comprise of a series of tasks measuring the same construct. Psychological tests measures optimal performance on the give task. Psychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of an individual wherein data from multiple sources are integrated to provide a holistic picture of the client/ patient. It entails an in-depth process of putting together tests scores, personal history, medical history, and other relevant information, interview records of significant others in life such as parents, spouse, and so on. Psychological tests are also used during assessment. Usually more than one test is administered during assessment. In the clinical setting psychological assessments is helpful in indicating the current level of functional capability of the individual. Hence, it becomes helpful in diagnosis. It is often helpful in assessing brain functions. In the clinical as well as experimental set-up these assessment help determining the level of neurocognitive functioning. It has been used in the school settings also. In terms of brain-behaviour association, these assessments can help derive link between brain structure or pathway and psychological function.

With the advancement in technology now we have computerized neuropsychological assessment tools besides the traditional ones that involve paper-pencil and other artifacts. The table given below lists some of the common neuropsychological tests and their domains.

As these tests and batteries are supposed to be administered and interpreted by trained psychologists, we shall look at the details of selected few from the table given above.