An Evaluation of Case Studies and Their Contribution to Cognitive Neuropsychology as a Discipline

Cognitive Psychology draws the comparison between the human mind and a computer, suggesting that we like the computer process the information we acquire from around us and then react accordingly. Hearnshaw, (1987), claims that Cognitive Psychology is both one of the oldest and also one of the newest parts of Psychology, cited in ?T. Malim?, (1994). Information is collected through our senses i.e. vision, touch, smell etc and then processed through our

Cognitive psychology is a pure science based mainly on laboratory experiments and began to revolutionize psychology in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and became the dominant approach in psychology by the late 1970’s [ (McLeod, 2007) ] according to Saul McLeod. An example of the cognitive perspective would be when one learns to take blood pressure. First you must learn how to manipulate the blood pressure manometer, learn how to hear blood pressure sounds and understand the meaning of the sounds. As each time you practice these activity, you will gain more confidence and competence in performing the task. The strong point of this perspective is that it mostly uses rigorous scientific methods and the approach has had many practical applications. The weakness of this perspective is that it is to simplistic. It ignores the complexity of the human function, biological influences of the human function and it ignores the emotions, conscious experience and free will.

can be explained in terms of Psychology. That makes me believe that the study is not easy at all.

The case of Phineas Gage discussed by Cacioppo & Fregberg (2013, pgs. 158-159) attempt to establish a link between the condition of the prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex and an individual’s tendency for displaying certain dispositions. The accounts of Gage before the injury to those post injury seem to support a strong correlation between the state of the brain and personality traits. Behavioral changes and analysis of the entry and exit wounds described in this case suggest Gage suffered significant damage to his frontal lobes, including the orbitofrontal cortex. Although many of Gage’s higher functions such as speech and the ability to perform complex tasks were retained, the damage caused acute changes in Gage’s demeanor and personality.

Clinical neuropsychology is a field with historical origins in both psychology and neurology. The primary activity of neuropsychologists is assessment of brain functioning through structured and systematic behavioral observation. Neuropsychological tests are designed to examine a variety of cognitive abilities, including speed of information processing, attention, memory, language, and executive functions, which are necessary for goal-directed behavior. By testing a range of cognitive abilities and examining patterns of performance in different cognitive areas, neuropsychologists can make inferences about underlying brain function. Neuropsychological testing is an important component of the assessment and treatment of traumatic brain

Throughout this course I have learned many things about research at an introductory level. Research is a critical part of all of our lives in many ways. God blesses each of us with a degree of common sense and we all learn from observing others even as babies, we learned behaviors and skills by observing our parents. Walking through experiences throughout life teach us a lot we need to know as well but sometimes we have to take a better approach when we need to learn about certain things. Many of us know that what works in some situations or with certain individuals doesn’t always work or is the safest option for another situation. Controlled and precisely organized study allows scientists to compare and examine contrasting methods and concepts, also helps them to discover various approaches and be able to learn from individual’s behaviors and experiences. I will act as the case study throughout this paper in order to observe what I have learned about.

Due to the funtions that the prefront cortex displays, damage to this area commonly leads to multiple problems such as the inability to plan or even behaving in ways that are not seen as sociably acceptable. Individuals who have suffered damage their prefrontal cortex are oblivious to future consequences and their actions tend to be guided by immediate results (Bechara, Damasio, Damasio, & Anderson, 1994).

It is suggested that TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) can damage systems related to functions such as self-regulation, attention, planning, memory, language, initiation, inhibition as well as identifying facial expressions, tone of voice, and relating them to emotion (Williams, Mcaulifee, Cohen, et al., 2015). It might equally cause deterioration in mood and behavior, therefore, social aspects of the patient’s life may be affected to the point of presenting non-acceptable social behavior. (Williams, et al., 2015) In the history of Neuropsychology, the best known case of Frontal Lobe lesions interfering with personality and social behaviour is the case of Phineas Gage, Gage´s brain was pierced by an iron bar while working, this bar went through the frontal part of his head, as reported by Harlow in 1868; the man became rude, impatient and temperamental (Kolb & Whishaw, 2015).

This essay explains what can be learnt about the relationship between brain and behaviour using the case of Phineas Gage and imaging techniques. It starts by briefly describing neurons. It then goes on to look at what can be learnt by studying accidental brain damages and the effect they can have on behaviour using Phineas Gage’s case. This essay acknowledges that there are limitations on what can be learnt from accidental

In contrast, a technique favoured by cognitive neuropsychologists is neurological case studies. These are reports on individuals who have suffered damage to the nervous system. Researchers can observe the behaviour of participants and interpret how this has been affected by their brain injury. However, the conclusions that can be taken from such studies are also limited, especially when they involve a single subject, (Payne and Wenger, 1982).

Although Dr. Harlow reasoned that the damage was done to the frontal lobes of Gage's brain, "nineteenth century science had a hard time accepting the notion that a dollop of gray jelly could govern something so transcendent as social behavior ." The exact location of the trauma was found recently (1994) during examinations of Gage's skull using photography, x-rays and 3-D computer modeling. These have shown that the regions of the frontal lobes essential for intellectual, motor and language function, the motor strip and Broca's area, were left intact. The lower middle portions of both frontal lobes, however, were damaged. More specifically, the ventromedial region of the frontal lobe was destroyed, particularly on the left side. This localized damage seems to have been responsible for the temperamental and behavioral alterations. "The process of an individual's education and maturation can be seen as the establishment of plans of actions and responses that are influenced by basic drives, but...achieved through socially acceptable means. (Particular frontal areas) may be the structures in which most such patterns of behavior are inscribed and

The brain plays a key role in cognitive functioning. Of the many areas in the brain, only certain areas have an impact on cognitive functioning. The case of a man named Phineas Gage showed key elements of specific areas in the brain that support certain cognitive functions. The traumatic brain injury that Phineas Gage suffered in 1848 has aided cognitive and neuropsychologists in making large strides in understanding the human mind. In the following work, the role of the brain in cognitive functioning will be examined and better explained. Examples

Whenever patients experience damage to the brain left frontal lobe same as Phineas Gage, they became impulsive, emotionally unstable, unpredictable, and unable to make reasonable decisions (Cacioppo, Freberg, 2013, pp. 158-159). However, what I could not grasp was how physicians in the 1940s also 1950s deliberately damaged the frontal lobes of nearly 50,000 American. I understood their intention for the procedure. Nevertheless, 50,000 American left unable to work or live normal lives, due to their impulsive, antisocial behavior.

Cognitive psychology is the segment of psychology that explores internal mental processes such as visual processing, memory, problem solving, and language. Cognitive psychology also focuses on information processing and the method of how people store, manipulate and use information (Barsalou, 2005). With an emphasis on thought processes, cognitive psychology also explores and discusses thinking and knowledge acquisition as conceptual terms. Well known contributors to the fields, such as Jean Piaget, are especially concerned with the development of cognition and formed stage theories to explain

“Cognitive psychology is a modern approach to the study of [processes by which people come to understand the world- such processes as memory, learning, comprehending language, problem solving, and creativity. Cognitive psychology has been influenced by developments in language, computer science, and of course, earlier work in philosophy and psychology” – Hayes (cited by Lundin)