Cognitive microgenesis : a neuropsychological perspective

An analysis of the neural dynamics underlying mental processes, "Cognitive Microgenesis" proposes that the structural development of mental processes evolves through a series of qualitatively different stages following the presentation of a stimulus to a behavioural response. On this view, all mental representations, including ideas, perceptions, words and actions are considered to evolve through a process of progressive elaboration which forms the major part of their structure. Recently, the microgenetic approach was applied to the problems of brain damage and neurorehabilitation. A fundamental premise of microgenesis is that the symptoms of brain damage do not necessarily represent deficits or aberrations, but a given symptom reflects the sub-surface stage at which the normal process of cognitive formation is disrupted due to a lesion. The first part of the volume presents neuropsychological interpretations and clinical applications of cognitive microgenesis by leading scholars and clinicians. The second part presents methodology on percept-genesis and research findings on visual information processing, anxiety, defense, attention, and personality assessment. This volume may be of interest to neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurorehabilitation specialists, neuroscientists, and cognitive psychologists. This monograph on neuropsychology, neurology and rehabilitation is intended for researchers and clinicians.