Description of Neuropsychology

Descriptionof Neuropsychology


FloridaSouthwestern State College

Tableof Contents

Introduction 2

Description of Neuropsychology 2

Body 3

Working Environment and Areas of Employment 3

Educational Requirements and Certifications 4

Types of Clients 4

Impact of this Career on Life and how the profession meets the goals of Psychology 5

Potential Salary Scale 5

Discussion of theory 6

Conclusion 7

References 8

IntroductionDescriptionof Neuropsychology

Similarto a psychologist, a neuropsychologist is a person who specializes inunderstanding the relationship that exists between a person’sbehavior and the brain. They study the cognitive, social, andemotional processes and behaviors by observing, interpreting, andrecording the relation between people and the environment. They canalso be grouped into school, social, counseling, developmental,forensic, industrial-organization, and clinical psychologists. Theycollect information and assess the behavior via sustainable labexperiments, psychotherapy, or psychoanalysis. They can also managepersonality, intelligence, aptitude, or performance tests. Theynormally monitor patterns of behavior or relations betweenactivities, and utilize the data to test theories in studies ortreating patients. This paper will provide information about theworking environment, education background, salary scale, andcertifications needed to be neuropsychologist. Apart from that, itwill discuss theories utilized in this profession to understand thefunctionality of the brain.

BodyWorkingEnvironment and Areas of Employment

Thearea and working environment associated with this profession isclosely related to the psychologists. The neuropsychologists conductevaluations on intelligence, attention, learning, memory,sensorimotor function, concentration, and academic ability. Theclinical neuropsychologists are tasked with preparing reports usingdata from psychological tests, measures, observations, interviews, orrating scales. As such, they work alongside psychologists tounderstand the different brain patters. They are mainly employed inelementary and secondary schools in the state, local, as well as,private sector [CITATION NKa88 l 1033 ].

Someneuropsychologists prefer to work independently. Therefore, they havepersonal clients, conduct research, or work with patients. Some areemployed within the healthcare system. In this case, they collaboratewith social workers and physicians. In the school setting,neuropsychologists work with students, parents, and teachers amongother educators. Neuropsychologists also work in the private sectoroften in the evenings and weekends to serve a wide range of clients.The neuropsychologists in the private sector usually set their ownworking hours [CITATION NKa88 l 1033 ].

EducationalRequirements and Certifications

Asthe working environment suggests, the educational background mustappropriate. Most of the neuropsychologists require graduate school.For instance, they must have a master’s degree, while some mayrequire a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Neuropsychologists musthave deductive and inductive reasoning to produce logical answerswhen dealing with patients. They also need to have a wide knowledgeon psychology, therapy and counseling. On-job training is normallyoffered to new employees but most of them are acquitted to theenvironment. Neuropsychology is a demanding profession that requireshigh academic qualifications accompanied by great experience. Thecertification is obtained from the American Board of ProfessionalPsychology. The American Board of Professional Neuropsychologyprovide certification in neuropsychology [CITATION NKa88 l 1033 ].

Typesof Clients

Dependingon the type of neuropsychologists, the clients vary.Neuropsychologists are primarily psychologists who are involved inevaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of emotional, behavioral, andmental disorders. Since they study the impacts of brain injuries,developmental disorders, mental health conditions, and braindiseases, most of them are situated in the clinical areas. Majorityof the patients neuropsychologists interact with have brain issues.

Impactof this Career on Life and how the profession meets the goals ofPsychology

Bearingthe similarity to pure psychology, a neuropsychologist normally hasgreat interactions with clients. It involves sharing of experienceswhich directly influences the neuropsychologist’s life. It alsoinvolves monitoring the patients, and as such, it is a complicatedprofession that is demanding and exhausting. Therefore, the careercalls for professionals in this field to be empathic and personable.The probability of burnout is so high that it requires theprofessionals to understand and learn how to leave their jobs inoffice so that they can have their life outside the work environment[ CITATION Kar14 l 1033 ].

PotentialSalary Scale

Theduties associated with this profession are quite delicate, hence theyare well compensated. Since the neuropsychologists are encompassedwithin psychology, the salary scale is almost the same. Their medianannual wage in May 2015 was $72,580. According to the statistics, theminimal 10% earned less than $41,110. On the other hand, the highest10% received over $118,310. The salaries are dependent on the area ofemployment. For instance, those working in state, local, or privatehospital earned a median salary of $81,430. The ones working withinthe government are the highest remunerated with around $90,620 [CITATION NKa88 l 1033 ].

Discussionof theory

Luria’sneuropsychological theory is an important concept that is viable inthis field. The theory is founded on the principle of historical andcultural conditionality of mental operations. It is also based on thesystemic functional organization principle of mental operations inthe brain. According to the theory, neuropsychologists have to regardthe plasticity of the brain in two perspectives. In one view, itconsiders the plasticity of the brain and the capacity to reorganizei.e. structural changes. The other perception is based on theplasticity of cognitive processes i.e. variations in the structure ofmental operations. These two aspects are interconnected during theontogenesis or in the event of brain lesion. As per Luria’sconcept, the growth of mental functions takes place in postnatalontogenesis. It precisely occurs when the structures related to thesefunctions are impacted by historical and cultural conditions [ CITATION Placeholder1 l 1033 ].

Theenvironmental conditions in this case describe the structuralvariations in the brain operations. As such, the brain changesaccording to these conditions. During brain lesions, theinterrelations among the various brain sections is destroyed. In thatregard, the normal operations of the brain is altered. According tothis theory, it is important to consider the emerging structuralalterations of the brain when compensating for defects of the mentalfunctions. As such, it is also necessary to artificially conditionthe environment where the compensation processes occur i.e. adjustingfor the brain capacities [CITATION Placeholder1 l 1033 ].


Neuropsychologyis a crucial profession that is concerned with the structure andfunctionality of the brain and the related psychological processesand behaviors. Being a constituent the of the wider psychology field,most of the neuropsychologists are employed in similar places i.e.government agencies and the private sector while others prefer to beindependent. Due to the interrelation of these fields, theneuropsychologists are paid much the same portions given topsychologists. Since they are focused on the brain structure andfunctions, the neuropsychologists are guided by some key theoriesconcerning cognitive behaviors as well as development. Luria’sneuropsychological theory is one of the key concepts.


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