Episode 92 | Cultural Neuropsych Evals with Daryl Fujii
This conversation focuses on culturally informed neuropsychological evaluations. We discuss big picture topics such as becoming more culturally sensitive, cultural differences across the world, and macrosocietal structures. We also talk about how to translate cultural knowledge and experience to clinical evaluations in neuropsychology.
Episode 90 | Autism: The Big Picture – With Sir Simon Baron-Cohen
This is a big picture conversation about autism with Sir Simon Baron-Cohen. We cover the concepts of neurodiversity, systemizing and empathy (including their relationships to autism), sex and gender issues, cognitive strengths and weaknesses in autism, and clinical applications.
Episode 88 | Cannabis and Driving – with Dr. Tom Marcotte
We talk about acute effects of cannabis use (THC) on driving performance with Tom Marcotte, a clinical scientist with decades of experience in this area. We cover the acute cognitive effects of cannabis, the time course of the effects of cannabis on driving performance (based on a driving simulator), the relationship between subjective perceptions of driving performance and actual performance, relevant legal and legislative issues related to cannabis and driving, and differences between recreational and medicinal cannabis on cognition and driving.
Episode 86 | Intellectual Disability – With Dr. Jennifer Huffman
We discuss intellectual disability (ID) with Jennifer Huffman, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, a board certified pediatric neuropsychologist. We discuss diagnosis of ID, including strengths and weaknesses of different test batteries, as well as the importance of adaptive functioning. We also cover etiology (e.g., genetic syndromes), cultural considerations, interventions, and much more.
Episode 84 | Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia – With Dr. Bruce Miller
This episode is a discussion of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). We first talk about overlap and differences between the various FTD spectrum conditions. Next, we cover the following topics specific to bvFTD: neuropathology, genetics, and neuroimaging, phenocopy syndrome, the classic clinical and behavioral syndrome, cognitive profile, and treatment options.
Episode 82 | Neuropsychological Norms for Spanish Speaking People in the U.S. – With Dr. Maria Marquine
This episode is a conversation about neuropsychological norms for Spanish speaking people who reside in the U.S. It focuses on the NP-NUMBRS project, which provides norms for a multidomain cognitive battery completed by Spanish speakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. Additional topics covered include shared aspects of Hispanic/Latinx culture that are relevant to neuropsychologists, the importance of co-normed cognitive batteries in neuropsychology, and cognitive effects of bilingualism, among others.
Episode 80 | Cognitive Reserve – With Dr. Yaakov Stern
This episode is a conversation about cognitive reserve, which is a heuristic that helps explain variation across people in their ability to withstand neuropathology and brain damage. We discuss terminology, including defining and differentiating cognitive reserve, brain reserve, brain maintenance and resilience. We also cover sociobehavioral proxies for cognitive reserve, functional neuroimaging, and clinical applications.
Episode 78 | Neuropsychology and Sub-Saharan Africa – With Drs. Jean Ikanga and Tony Stringer
Culturally informed neuropsychological evaluations require that clinicians develop knowledge of the macrosocietal structures of unfamiliar countries and the cultural backgrounds of their patients. Sub-Saharan Africa is a large region, with over one billion people, some of whom develop neurological conditions and could benefit from neuropsychological services. In this episode, we discuss shared aspects of sub-Saharan culture, particularly in contrast to Western norms, and we introduce and describe the African Neuropsychological Battery. The overarching goal of the episode is to help listeners increase awareness and knowledge of important cultural factors.
Episode 76 | Aerospace Neuropsychology – With Dr. Randy Georgemiller
A high level of cognitive functioning is crucial to the safe and competent operation of aircraft. Neuropsychologists are increasingly called upon to perform cognitive evaluations of commercial airline pilots and these evaluations are unique in many ways compared to more conventional clinical assessments in hospital settings. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of aerospace neuropsychology, including important clinically relevant evidence-based advice and guidance for neuropsychologists looking to extend their practice by evaluating aviators.
Episode 74 | Global Neuropsychology: Introduction – With Dr. Tedd Judd
This episode covers cultural neuropsychology and global neuropsychology. We talk with Tedd Judd, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about how neuropsychology in North Atlantic countries is unique relative to how neuropsychology is practiced elsewhere. We also discuss advice for conducting competent clinical evaluations with patients whose culture is unfamiliar to the clinician.