Research on Cognition Disorders

Description:

Research on cognitive disorders is challenging due to the complexity of functions and numerous variables involved. The main purpose of this book is to effectively address the methodological issues and controversies in cognitive disorders research. First, it reviews the concept of human cognition as a complex activity involving interconnected mental and cerebral processes (its systemic structure), which represent the natural and social-cultural world by means of signs (its mediated, semiotic nature) and result from the internalization (or appropriation by the individual) of external actions and relations with things and persons (its cultural-historical origin). Subsequently, methodological issues are examined, including the use of the systemic and network approach in neuropsychological research, the concepts of single and double dissociation, single-case versus group studies, problems of brain-behavioral correlations using the lesion method and functional neuroimaging, the influence of task-relevant variables (confounders) related to the patient (e.g., age, education), to the lesion (size, etiology), and to the tests and testing conditions (ecological validity, examiner´s experience). Finally, readers are given the fundamentals of statistics applied to biomedical and psychological research, with illustrative examples of how to calculate Z score, effect size, χ2 test, t test, Pearson´s correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression. Methodological problems in current cognitive research on early multiple sclerosis, medial temporal lobe epilepsy, mild cognitive impairment and dementia are examined in detail.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

Part I. Cognitive Functions and Their Interrelationships

2. Sensation and Perception

3. Attention

4. Memory

5. Language

6. Cognition as a Mediated, Self-Organized, and Dynamic Activity

Part II. Historical-Cultural Origin of Cognition

7. Evolutionary Perspective

8. Ontogenetic Perspective

9. Role of Imitation and Appropriation in the Cognitive Development

10. Acquisition of Theory of Mind, Language, and Social Cognition

Part III. Neuropsychological Investigation: Methodological Issues

11. Systemic Approach and the Problem of Reciprocal Influences of Mental Functions on Each Other

12. Brain-Behavior Correlations

13. Research Methods and Designs

Part IV. Fundamentals of Statistics Applied to Biomedical and Psychological Research

14. Elements of Statistics: Basic Concepts

15. Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis

16. Hypothesis Testing

17. Choosing a Statistical Test

Part V. Methodological Issues in Research on Selected Conditions

18. Cognitive Research on Early Multiple Sclerosis

19. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

20. Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Dementia

Back Matter