Once viewed as a somewhat vague metaphysical construct, not suitable for behavioral inquiry, attention is now recognized as a core cognitive function, essential to the brain's processing of outside stimuli. Not surprisingly in an era of advanced information technologies--and rising rates of ADD--attention has also emerged as a significant area of study within neuropsychology.

The Second Edition of Neuropsychology of Attention reflects this evolution, integrating fruitful lines of inquiry from disciplines as varied as psychology, medicine, and cognitive science, and synthesizing the current state of attention-related theory, conceptualization, findings, and therapy. Focusing on cognitive, behavioral, and neural processes, mechanisms, and disorders, this reference expands on previous models of brain structures and function in light of the latest theoretical and technological advances. Imaging, clinical, and experimental data locate attention in the context of executive functioning and track the attentional effects of specific conditions from depression to TBI to Alzheimer's disease. And the book's updated clinical chapters offer state of the art methods for the assessment and treatment of attention disturbances, providing possibilities for addressing these and other real-life concerns. Included in the coverage:

• Phenomenology, history and evolution of the neuropsychology of attention.
• Behavioral and cognitive manifestations and processes of attention.
• Relationships of attention to consciousness, awareness and memory.
• Neural substrates of attention.
• Functional brain systems underlying attention.
• Impact on attention of specific neurological, psychiatric, and medical illnesses.
• Current methods for assessing attentional disorders.
• Effective behavioral treatments and pharmacotherapy.
• Neural,behavioral, and physical constraints on attention.
• New directions from neuroimaging and computational neuroscience.The Second Edition of Neuropsychology of Attention brings a variety of professionals up to speed, including neuropsychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, health psychologists, primary care physicians, and educators.

Autorentext

Ronald Cohen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School and The Miriam Hospital and Director of Neuropsychology at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Cohen is an active researcher in clinical and cognitive neuroscience with over 50 publications. His research interests include the study of brain-behavior relationships, particularly with respect to attention, timing, and executive functioning. His clinical research interests include the neural bases of violence, cardiovascular disease influences on neurocognitive functioning, and Alzheimer's and related dementia. Recent work has been initiated to examine neurobehavioral effects of brain nicotinic function. Cohen is actively involved in the training of interns and postdoctoral fellows.

Zusammenfassung

It has been 15 years since the original publication of Neuropsychology of Attention. At the time of its publication, attention was a construct that had long been of theoretical interest in the field of psychology and was receiving increased research by cognitive scientists. Yet, attention was typically viewed as a nuisance variable; a factor that needed to be accounted for when assessing brain function, but of limited importance in its own right.

There is a need for a new edition of this book within Neuropsychology to present an updated and integrated review of what is know about attention, the disorders that affect it, and approaches to its clinical assessment and treatment. Such a book will provide perspectives for experimental neuropsychological study of attention and also provide clinicians with insights on how to approach this neuropsychological domain.

Inhalt

Part One: Foundations.- Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Historical and Philosophical Antecedents.- Chapter 3: Cognitive Psychology of Attention.- Chapter 4: Cognitive science of attention: Current concepts and approaches.- Chapter 5: Intention, Response Selection, and Executive-Attention.- Chapter 6: Focused and Sustained Attention.- Chapter 7: Behavioral Perspectives.- Chapter 8: Orienting Response: Index of Attention.- Chapter 9: Physiological Substrates of Attention.- Chapter 10: Neural Mechanisms of Attention.- Chapter 11: Models and Mechanisms of Attention.- Part II. Neuropsychology of Attention.- Chapter 12: Disorders of Sensory Selective Attention.- Chapter 13: Attention and the Frontal Cortex.- Chapter 14: Subcortical and Limbic Influences.- Chapter 15: Attention Disturbances Associated with Neurological Disease.- Chapter 16: Medical Disorders and Behavioral Risk Factors.- Chapter 17: Psychiatric Disturbances of Attention.- Chapter 18: Developmental Disorders.- Chapter 19: Clinical Considerations: Assessment and Treatment.- Chapter 20: Neuropsychological Models of Attention Disturbance.- Part III. Toward an Integrated Attentional Framework.- Chapter 21: Consciousness and Self-Directed Attention.- Chapter 22: Neural Constraints on Attention.- Chapter 23: Processing Speed and Attentional Resources.- Chapter 24: Mutual Constraints of Memory and Attention.- Chapter 25: Spatial and Temporal Determinants of Attention.- Chapter 26: Neuroimaging of Attention.- Chapter 27: Computational Models for the Analysis of Attention.- Chapter 28: Neuropsychology of Attention: Synthesis. <