According to the American Psychological Association, “neuropsychology is a specialty that applies the principles of assessment and intervention based upon the scientific study of human behavior as it relates to normal and abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. The specialty is dedicated to the understanding of brain-behavior relationships and the application of such problems to human knowledge.”

In other words, neuropsychology is a subspecialty of the field of psychology that focuses on the relationship between brain functioning and behavior. Psychology is the study of human behavior. 


Who is a Neuropsychologist?   

It is important to understand that not all psychologists are neuropsychologists. A neuropsychologist is an individual who has obtained a doctoral degree in psychology (typically a PhD) from a university accredited by the American Psychological Association. Following completion of the doctoral program, which includes a one year internship, a two-year fellowship in neuropsychology is completed. This fellowship is one component of the necessary training for a neuropsychologist and includes training in the areas of neuropsychology, neuroanatomy, and  brain function.


What does a Neuropsychologist do?

Although a neuropsychologist is a “doctor,” neuropsychologists do not prescribe medications nor do they administer medical tests such as a Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) or Computerized Topography (CT) scans. Neuropsychologists assess functional brain development using a battery of specially designed neuropsychological tests. For more information on the types of tests that neuropsychologists do, please click on the "Our Services" link above.