Subcortical Structures
and Cognition

Chapter 10

The Basal Ganglia and Neuropsychological Testing

 

This chapter presents a methodology for the interpretation of neuropsychological tests.

There are no single tests that are sensitive to the integrity of the basal ganglia only, and a simple level of performance criteria can never be used for the purpose of identifying basal ganglia pathology. However, this chapter emphasizes test score comparisons. This type of pattern analysis is introduced as a powerful, synergestic methodology.

Identifying relevant test score patterns can often point to involvement of frontal-basal ganglia circuitry. This is illustrated by reviewing clinical cases, including basal ganglia infarct and certain types of developmental disorder. Therefore, the cases reveal how subcortical involvement impacts upon neuropsychological, cognitive test performance.