The brain is complex, mysterious and even wondrous. It is responsible for everything we say and do. Yet, it provides few hints about how it accomplishes the amazing feats it performs every second. In a seemingly effortless manner, the brain is able to transform a sequence of sounds into words, and a collection of lines and curves into objects, to name just a few of its abilities. But we often take the brain for granted - until there is a problem. Like the rest of body, the brain is vulnerable to injury and illness, but it differs from other body parts in that it determines who we are by engineering our thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
The field of neuropsychology is concerned with the relationship between the brain and behavior across the life span. A neuropsychologist is a specialist with extensive training in non-invasive procedures that are designed to measure the activities of the brain. A typical neuropsychological evaluation includes the assessment of basic sensory and motor functions, attention, memory, language abilities, perceptual abilities, reasoning, behavioral control and emotional status. The evaluation is usually completed in one day, although it is sometimes necessary to extend the testing over several days.
Individuals are referred for neuropsychological evaluation for a variety of reasons, some of which include:
- Diagnosis (e.g., differentiating depression from dementia)
- Prognosis (e.g., assessing the capacity to return to work after head injury)
- Surgical monitoring (e.g., determining outcome after surgery for intractable epilepsy)
- Competency (e.g., establishing capacity for medical and/or personal decision-making)
- Treatment planning (e.g., referral for cognitive rehabilitation or counseling)
At the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center, under the direction of Dr. Keith Cicerone and Dr. Joseph Giacino, our team of neuropsychologists are able to provide evaluation and treatment services for individuals with a variety of brain disorders including:
To help assure proper diagnosis and treatment, neuropsychology staff members
work closely with the neurology and neurosurgery professionals at
the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute. The multi-disciplinary team
approach employed at the institute allows the medical, behavioral,
psychological and social consequences of the underlying neurologic
illness or injury to be addressed "under one roof."
In addition to providing a wide range of clinical services, the neuropsychology
section of the Neuroscience Institute maintains an active research
program and regularly disseminates its findings through professional
scientific meetings and publications. A two-year post-doctoral residency
training program in neuropsychology is also offered.
If your doctor has recommended a neuropsychological evaluation for
you or a family member, or you are interested in scheduling an initial
consultation, we invite you to take the first step and call us at
the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute.
Neuropsychology
Joseph T. Giacino, Ph.D.