Future Prospects for a Computational Neuropsychology

Abstract

This chapter concludes the book with a focus upon the potential of technology for neuroinformatics and the development of repositories for linking neuropsychological assessment results with data from neuroimaging, psychophysiology, and genetics. It is argued that clinical neuropsychology is ready to embrace technological advances and experience a transformation of its concepts and methods. To develop this aspect of Neuropsychology 3.0, it is suggested that clinical neuropsychologists incorporate findings from the human genome project, as well as advances in psychometric theory and information technologies. Enhanced evidence-based science and praxes is possible if neuropsychologists do the following: (1) develop formal definitions of neuropsychological concepts and tasks in cognitive ontologies; (2) create collaborative neuropsychological knowledgebases; and (3) design novel assessment methods. These focus areas have been reinforced by a growing body of literature calling for increased emphasis upon neuroinformatics in the future of clinical neuropsychology.

Neuropsychology is poised for transformations of its concepts and methods, leveraging advances in neuroimaging, the human genome project, psychometric theory, and information technologies. It is argued that a paradigm shift toward evidence-based science and practice can be enabled by innovations.

—Robert Bilder (2011)