Patient-Based Approaches to Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract

The cognitive disorders that follow brain damage are an important source of insight into the neural bases of human thought. Although cognitive neuroscience is sometimes equated with cognitive neuroimaging, the patient-based approach to cognitive neuroscience is responsible for most of what we now know about the brain systems underlying perception, attention, memory, language and higher-order forms of thought including consciousness. This volume brings together state-of-the-art reviews of the patient-based approach to these and other central issues in cognitive neuroscience, written by leading authorities. Part 1 covers the history, principles and methods of patient-based neuroscience: lesion method, imaging, computational modelling and anatomy. Part 2 covers perception, attention and neglect, disorders of perception and awareness, and misidentification syndromes. Part 3 covers language: aphasia, language disorders in children, specific language impairments, developmental dyslexia, acquired reading disorders and agraphia. Part 4 covers memory: amnesia and semantic memory impairments. Part 5 covers higher cognitive functions: frontal lobes, callosal disconnection (split brain), skilled movement disorders, acalculia, dementia, delirium and degenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.