neuropsychologists

Neuropsychologists are professionals who study how brain function affects behavior, thought, and emotion. They typically hold doctoral degrees in psychology or neuroscience and receive specialized training in brain-behavior assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation. In many countries, clinical neuropsychology is a credentialed specialty with opportunities for board certification.

Work involves assessing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning to understand the impact of neurological conditions on daily life. Neuropsychologists administer and interpret standardized tests of memory, attention, language, and executive function, and integrate medical history and neuroimaging findings. They distinguish between primary psychiatric diagnoses and cognitive disorders arising from brain injury or disease, aiding in diagnoses such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, developmental disorders, and epilepsy.

Practitioners develop rehabilitation plans and strategies to support adjustment and independence. They may provide cognitive rehabilitation, compensatory strategies, and therapy aimed at improving everyday functioning. They also conduct capacity evaluations for legal or financial decisions and can participate in forensic assessments. In addition to clinical work, many neuropsychologists conduct research on brain-behavior relationships and contribute to trials and policy development.

Settings include hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, universities, schools, and research institutes. They collaborate with neurologists, psychiatrists, rehabilitation therapists, educators, and social workers. Ethical practice emphasizes informed consent, cultural sensitivity, confidentiality, and the limitations of testing. The field stresses evidence-based approaches and careful interpretation given variability in test performance due to education, culture, and fatigue.