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Handbook of neuropsychology (Vol. 5)
Pergamon
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 363-366, 1994 Copyright 0 1994 National Academy of Neuropsychology Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0887.6177/94 $6.00 + .OO
0887-6177(94)EOO22-H
Book and Test Reviews Arthur
MacNeill
Horton,
Psych Associates,
Jr., Associate Editor Towson,
MD
Handbook of Neuropsychology (Vol. 5). Boller, Amsterdam(Eds.). Elsevier. (xiv + 395~~).
F. 8z Grafman,
J. (1991).
The fifth volume in the Handbook of Neuropsychology completes the original comprehensive series of volumes on clinical and experimental neuropsychological analysis of adult cognitive function. It includes the second part of the section on aging and dementia (continued from the previous volume) under the direction of Section Editor S. Corkin in addition to a section on “cognitive, methodological and practical approaches” under the supervision of Series Editors J. Grafman and F. Boller. Aging and Dementia (Part Two) The chapters in this section discuss specialized topics related to differential diagnostic syndrome analysis, epidemiology, multidisciplinary molecular and molar approaches to neuroscientific research, their correlation with related cognitive findings, and the differentiation of normal aging cognitive effects from pathological disease process symptoms. The neurologic syndrome analytic chapters address several common and extensively studied types of cortical and subcortical dementing syndromes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (I-ID), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. The coverage of cognitive deficit syndrome analysis of each syndrome is presented in clear, categorical outline form that facilitates information retrieval. Frequent use of tables and figures to summarize and illustrate complex trends in the data also adds to the clarity of these presentations. An important chapter on dementia syndrome subtyping addresses issues in experimental design as well as multidisciplinary evidence for such subgroups 363
364
Book and Test Reviews
in AD. The chapter on “pathological and chemical correlates of dementia” in the syndromes of PD, AD, and multi-infarct dementia syndromes unfortunately is quite brief, and should have been expanded considerably to better serve as a basic science medical primer for multidisciplinary nonmedical professionals in this comprehensive reference. The discussion of neuropsychopharmacological symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of cortical (AD) and subcortical (PD) dementing syndromes is more thorough, and it presents related data within the familiar framework of syndrome analysis. Rational methods of symptomatic and prophylactic treatment are presented for model cortical (AD) and subcortical (PD) dementing syndromes. Analyses by drug classes, mechanisms of action, and symptomatic effects provide useful organizing principles for both the novice and the specialist in the area to understand, to identify, and to retrieve detailed information quickly which has ready theoretical, clinical, and experimental applicability. An exemplary blend of basic and applied scientific instruction is illustrated by the chapter on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and NMR spectroscopy. Here, the nonspecialist is taken through a thorough introduction to the scientific principles that underlie these technologies before their clinical applications are presented. It is also valuable that the authors presented their speculations about the likely sensitivity of these neuroimaging techniques for analysis of specific molecular, cellular, membranal, and regional anatomical areas of interest. Although this presentation is challenging for the nonspecialist to master, the scientific principles are lucidly discussed, well illustrated, and both experimentally and clinically relevant. The chapter on the role of attentional disorder as a mediating variable that affects cognitive performance in the dementing syndromes is one of the highlights of this section of the volume. Its application of experimental cognitive psychological principles to clinical syndrome and anatomic functional system analysis is beautifully clear. The model is developed dimensionally for normals, and its clinical syndrome elements are shown to result from selective breakdown of specific portions of this cognitive system, particularly in the syndrome of AD. Differentiation of this syndrome from “pseudodementias” is presented, and the role of attentional deficit in dementia progression is clarified using experimental and clinical criteria. Normal age-related changes in memorial efficiency and processing receive extensive, detailed, and parametically clear analysis in the other outstanding chapter of this section of the volume. This presentation serves as a thorough overview of the experimental neuropsychology of memorial processes and their patterns of variability over the life span. Comparisons with AD and PD syndrome patterns are usefully integrated with the discussion of normal geriatric memorial change to illustrate differences between the normal and neuropathologic cognitive processes. A complementary chapter carries the discussion further into the analysis of experimental models of memorial functional assessment. The authors develop comparative cognitive and regional anatomic
Book and Test Reviews
365
models of normal aging, PD, AD, Primary Degenerative Dementia, and HD. In another presentation the pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar components of the motor system and their interactions in man are briefly overviewed as a background for detailed syndrome analyses of age-specific, task-specific, and syndrome-specific motor deficit patterns. More detailed explanation of normal function of the anatomic functional systems would have been desirable to match the depth of discussion of clinical syndromes for the multidisciplinary reader, but the clinical presentations are very thorough and lucid. Cognitive, Methodological
and Practical Approaches
A very important chapter overviews the role of cognitive psychology in functional system model building and evaluation and its role in the parametric analysis of brain-behavior relationships. The complementary role played by quantitative cognitive models that can be used to test, modify, and constrain theories of brain-behavior relationships are discussed with specific examples from molar and molecular levels of neurobehavioral analysis. Case studies as well as theoretical formulations are used to illustrate the clinical+xperimental interface. A complementary chapter on experimental and clinical analysis of syntactical comprehension illustrates these methodological principles in addition to providing a useful update on an important topical area. An extensive and highly sophisticated methodological chapter addresses issues in clinical-anatomical syndromic correlation, methods of impressionistic, psychometric, and experimental syndrome analysis, and the role of theoretical cognitive psychological models in neurobehavioral model building and testing. Advantages and limitations of each methodology and specific types of evidence from standard experimental designs are illustrated and critiqued as sources of evidence for functional system and syndrome analysis. Cross-sectional group analysis and longitudinal individual case sudies each are shown to have a role in a variety of specific functional systems such as memory, directed attention, and spatial cognition. The volume closes with a historical overview of the role of neuropsychology in clinical diagnostic assessment, rehabilitation, and basic and applied research. A wide variety of references to the general literature as well as to other contributions within the Handbook of Neuropsychology place the multidisciplinary field of adult neuropsychology into historical perspective. The parametric evolution of the field of adult neuropsychology and the blended interaction of its diagnostic, rehabilitative, and experimental subspecialties is nicely overviewed in this final contribution to the original series and in the Handbook of Neuropsychology as a whole. The cognitive panorama of neuropsychology that the Series Editors Boller and Grafman and their colleagues have presented is vast, meticulously detailed, well integrated, and multidisciplinary. Emulation of their models of
366
Book and Test Reviews
scholarly theoretical and empirical practice and systematic application of the principles that are presented in the Handbook of Neuropsychology surely will lead to continued rapid empirical and clinical advancement of the field. James A. Moses, JK, PhD Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University School of Medicine; Coordinatol; Psychological Assessment Unit (116B) Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304-1207
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 363-366, 1994 Copyright 0 1994 National Academy of Neuropsychology Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0887.6177/94 $6.00 + .OO
0887-6177(94)EOO22-H
Book and Test Reviews Arthur
MacNeill
Horton,
Psych Associates,
Jr., Associate Editor Towson,
MD
Handbook of Neuropsychology (Vol. 5). Boller, Amsterdam(Eds.). Elsevier. (xiv + 395~~).
F. 8z Grafman,
J. (1991).
The fifth volume in the Handbook of Neuropsychology completes the original comprehensive series of volumes on clinical and experimental neuropsychological analysis of adult cognitive function. It includes the second part of the section on aging and dementia (continued from the previous volume) under the direction of Section Editor S. Corkin in addition to a section on “cognitive, methodological and practical approaches” under the supervision of Series Editors J. Grafman and F. Boller. Aging and Dementia (Part Two) The chapters in this section discuss specialized topics related to differential diagnostic syndrome analysis, epidemiology, multidisciplinary molecular and molar approaches to neuroscientific research, their correlation with related cognitive findings, and the differentiation of normal aging cognitive effects from pathological disease process symptoms. The neurologic syndrome analytic chapters address several common and extensively studied types of cortical and subcortical dementing syndromes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (I-ID), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. The coverage of cognitive deficit syndrome analysis of each syndrome is presented in clear, categorical outline form that facilitates information retrieval. Frequent use of tables and figures to summarize and illustrate complex trends in the data also adds to the clarity of these presentations. An important chapter on dementia syndrome subtyping addresses issues in experimental design as well as multidisciplinary evidence for such subgroups 363
364
Book and Test Reviews
in AD. The chapter on “pathological and chemical correlates of dementia” in the syndromes of PD, AD, and multi-infarct dementia syndromes unfortunately is quite brief, and should have been expanded considerably to better serve as a basic science medical primer for multidisciplinary nonmedical professionals in this comprehensive reference. The discussion of neuropsychopharmacological symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of cortical (AD) and subcortical (PD) dementing syndromes is more thorough, and it presents related data within the familiar framework of syndrome analysis. Rational methods of symptomatic and prophylactic treatment are presented for model cortical (AD) and subcortical (PD) dementing syndromes. Analyses by drug classes, mechanisms of action, and symptomatic effects provide useful organizing principles for both the novice and the specialist in the area to understand, to identify, and to retrieve detailed information quickly which has ready theoretical, clinical, and experimental applicability. An exemplary blend of basic and applied scientific instruction is illustrated by the chapter on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and NMR spectroscopy. Here, the nonspecialist is taken through a thorough introduction to the scientific principles that underlie these technologies before their clinical applications are presented. It is also valuable that the authors presented their speculations about the likely sensitivity of these neuroimaging techniques for analysis of specific molecular, cellular, membranal, and regional anatomical areas of interest. Although this presentation is challenging for the nonspecialist to master, the scientific principles are lucidly discussed, well illustrated, and both experimentally and clinically relevant. The chapter on the role of attentional disorder as a mediating variable that affects cognitive performance in the dementing syndromes is one of the highlights of this section of the volume. Its application of experimental cognitive psychological principles to clinical syndrome and anatomic functional system analysis is beautifully clear. The model is developed dimensionally for normals, and its clinical syndrome elements are shown to result from selective breakdown of specific portions of this cognitive system, particularly in the syndrome of AD. Differentiation of this syndrome from “pseudodementias” is presented, and the role of attentional deficit in dementia progression is clarified using experimental and clinical criteria. Normal age-related changes in memorial efficiency and processing receive extensive, detailed, and parametically clear analysis in the other outstanding chapter of this section of the volume. This presentation serves as a thorough overview of the experimental neuropsychology of memorial processes and their patterns of variability over the life span. Comparisons with AD and PD syndrome patterns are usefully integrated with the discussion of normal geriatric memorial change to illustrate differences between the normal and neuropathologic cognitive processes. A complementary chapter carries the discussion further into the analysis of experimental models of memorial functional assessment. The authors develop comparative cognitive and regional anatomic
Book and Test Reviews
365
models of normal aging, PD, AD, Primary Degenerative Dementia, and HD. In another presentation the pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar components of the motor system and their interactions in man are briefly overviewed as a background for detailed syndrome analyses of age-specific, task-specific, and syndrome-specific motor deficit patterns. More detailed explanation of normal function of the anatomic functional systems would have been desirable to match the depth of discussion of clinical syndromes for the multidisciplinary reader, but the clinical presentations are very thorough and lucid. Cognitive, Methodological
and Practical Approaches
A very important chapter overviews the role of cognitive psychology in functional system model building and evaluation and its role in the parametric analysis of brain-behavior relationships. The complementary role played by quantitative cognitive models that can be used to test, modify, and constrain theories of brain-behavior relationships are discussed with specific examples from molar and molecular levels of neurobehavioral analysis. Case studies as well as theoretical formulations are used to illustrate the clinical+xperimental interface. A complementary chapter on experimental and clinical analysis of syntactical comprehension illustrates these methodological principles in addition to providing a useful update on an important topical area. An extensive and highly sophisticated methodological chapter addresses issues in clinical-anatomical syndromic correlation, methods of impressionistic, psychometric, and experimental syndrome analysis, and the role of theoretical cognitive psychological models in neurobehavioral model building and testing. Advantages and limitations of each methodology and specific types of evidence from standard experimental designs are illustrated and critiqued as sources of evidence for functional system and syndrome analysis. Cross-sectional group analysis and longitudinal individual case sudies each are shown to have a role in a variety of specific functional systems such as memory, directed attention, and spatial cognition. The volume closes with a historical overview of the role of neuropsychology in clinical diagnostic assessment, rehabilitation, and basic and applied research. A wide variety of references to the general literature as well as to other contributions within the Handbook of Neuropsychology place the multidisciplinary field of adult neuropsychology into historical perspective. The parametric evolution of the field of adult neuropsychology and the blended interaction of its diagnostic, rehabilitative, and experimental subspecialties is nicely overviewed in this final contribution to the original series and in the Handbook of Neuropsychology as a whole. The cognitive panorama of neuropsychology that the Series Editors Boller and Grafman and their colleagues have presented is vast, meticulously detailed, well integrated, and multidisciplinary. Emulation of their models of
366
Book and Test Reviews
scholarly theoretical and empirical practice and systematic application of the principles that are presented in the Handbook of Neuropsychology surely will lead to continued rapid empirical and clinical advancement of the field. James A. Moses, JK, PhD Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University School of Medicine; Coordinatol; Psychological Assessment Unit (116B) Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304-1207