The actual intensive and extensive growth of international neuropsychology (both theoretical and applied) testified in the paper, is due to the abilities of contemporary professional neuropsychologists to meet different purposes beyond understanding of brain-behavior relationships. It makes contemporary neuropsychology an important part of the psychology of health, instead to be an aspect of the biology of health.
The value and the history of Lurian syndrome analysis are presented. The Lurian syndrome analysis (a qualitative (structural) analysis of the symptom under study), not only permits an understanding of why the subject was poor at or unable to perform a given task. Such an approach also allows us to see what other tasks, with similar cognitive demands (structure), could present difficulties for this individual (child or adult) as well as to predict the types of tasks accessible for the patient and the types of cueing efficient for him/her. The last is possible in conditions of dialogue interaction with the patient in the process of neuropsychological assessment. Lurian approach is oriented on the process of test fulfilment (the means by which the performer achieves or better the result as well as the level of necessary help or stimulation), more than on the test result — the level of performance on a task (accuracy, time, number of mistakes and so on) with reference to some expected (normative) level of performance.
The evolution of neuropsychology coincides with the universal tendency to replace a static neuropsychology, relating the individual’s behavior to fixed cerebral lesions, by a dynamic neuropsychology, which analyzes the dynamics of brain-behavior interaction in different social conditions and at different steps of ontogenic evolution. The author gives own model of neuropsychology evolution, including three overlapping and coexisting phases different in the main emphasis for neuropsychologists. In the first phase, the accent was on the brain and its relationship to different behaviors. In the second phase of neuropsychology evolution the structure of mental activity and neuropsychological interpretation of human cognition have been the focus of attention and afterwards their localization in the brain. The third and actually dominant phase of evolution in neuropsychology focuses on the interrelationship between a patient and his or her environment and integrates neuropsychological and real life data. This phase gave birth to social — historical or cultural — historical neuropsychology. One of the important consequences of cultural — historical approach in neuropsychology was the introduction of cultural adjustments in neuropsychological diagnostic tests, both verbal and nonverbal.
Qualitative and quantitative integration of Lurian procedures are discussed. Underlined are differences in concepts neuropsychology and neurosciences, as well as the role of cultural-historical approach in contemporary neuropsychological assessment, rehabilitation and remediation.
Three main trends can be seen in the evolution of neuropsychology after Luria: 1. Extensive further expansion of research and practice, that is, embracing numerous new domains and nosological patient groups; 2. Combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches; 3. Social and personality-based orientation.
Luria’s creative and comprehensive approach stimulates the further evolution of neuropsychology in Russia and throughout the world.
Beyond the brain: towards a mathematical modeling of emotions
