The role of culture is significant when measuring cognitive abilities during neuropsychological assessments. However, cultural diversity is a frequently overlooked moderating variable. The International Handbook of Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology emphasizes major distinctions among cultural groups in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to heighten awareness of nuances, as well as culturally-influenced differences and similarities. The goal of this important handbook is to view assessments and rehabilitation from different perspectives, thereby offering opportunities for increasing knowledge and understanding, while improving clinical skills and laying the groundwork for establishing international and cross-culture collaborations.
Clinical judgment can be colored by previous experiences from different cultures, expectancy rates of pathology among certain groups, and differences in socioeconomic levels. As clinical experiences increase with people from different cultures, the limitations of neuropsychological tools to make accurate assessments become evident. It is through gaining knowledge about the values of a different culture that neuropsychologists can develop a cross-cultural understanding.
Professionals in areas such as neuropsychology, cross-cultural psychology, and social psychology, to name a few, will find the material in this volume to be a stimulating addition to existing literature.
Contents: B.P. Uzzell, Part I: Grasping the Cross Culture Reality. Part II: Culture and Neuropsychology. A. Ardila, The Impact of Culture on Neuropsychological Test Performance. N.W. Nelson, M. Ponton, The Art of Clinical Neuropsychology. V. Nell, Environmentalists and Nativists: The IQ Controversy in Cross Cultural Perspective. C. Caetano, Qualitative Assessment Within and Across Cultures. Part III: Communication. A. Ardila, K. Keating, Cognitive Abilities in Different Cultural Contexts. C.D. Qualls, Speech, Language, and Neuropsychological Testing: Implications for African Americans. Part IV: Developmental Influences. L.W. Braga, Developmental Perspectives: Culture and Neuropsychological Development During Childhood. C. Armengol, Executive Functions in Hispanics: Towards an Ecological Neuropsychology. Part V: Educational Influences. A. Ardila, M. Rosselli, Illiteracies and Cognition: The Impact on Education. A. Castro-Caldas, Relationship Between Functional Brain Organization and Education. F. Ostrosky-Solis, Educational Effects on Cognitive Functions: Brain Reserve, Compensation, or Testing Bias. Part VI: Visuospatial Representations. R. Sugarman, Visuospatial Assessment in Cross Cultural and Nonwestern Settings. M. Iwata, Neural Circuit of Reading and Writing in the Japanese Language. Part VII: Cross Culture Assessments. M. Ponton, M.E. Corona-LoMonaco, Cross Cultural Issues in Neuropsychology: Assessment of the Hispanic Patient. G.D. Salazar, M.P. Garcia, A.E. Puente, Clinical Neuropsychology of Spanish Speakers: The Challenge and Pitfalls of Neuropsychology of a Heterogeneous Population. A. Shah, Cultural Issues in Clinical Context With Asian Indian Patients. L. Gilbert, S. Tollman, Epidemiological Social and Cultural Aspects of Illness–A Case Study of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Part VIII: Response to Life Events. T. Judd, R. DeBoard, Natural Recovery: An Ecological Approach to Neuropsychological Recuperation. S. Tollman, Emotions and Attitudes: Unbundling Sociocultural Influences.