Elkhonon Goldberg

Clinical Neuropsychology: Diagnosis and Treatment in the 21^st Century
July 21-25

The course will focus on a broad state-of-the art overview of clinical neuropsychology with forays into cognitive neuroscience. The emphasis will be on clinical issues and how they are informed by the cutting-age scientific breakthroughs. The course is designed to be both relevant and accessible to practicing neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, as well as other professionals interested in state-of-the-art issues of brain and cognition.

Monday
Introduction. Functional cortical organization and major neuropsychological syndromes in light of state-of-the-art cognitive neuroscience. The unique role of the frontal lobes and the concept of executive functions. Hemispheric specialization through lifespan. Going beyond universals: Gender and handedness differences in brain organization and cognition.

Tuesday
Dementias and lifespan cognitive changes.
Diagnosis of major dementias: Alzheimer's, Lewy body, Pick's, fronto-temporal, vascular, hydrocephalic, neurotoxic. Risk factors, comorbidities and differential diagnosis. Brain plasticity. Treatments. Healthy cognitive aging.

Wednesday
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and executive deficit.
Mechanisms of TBI. Cognitive impairment in TBI. Executive deficit and personality changes. Forensic aspects of TBI.

Thursday
Neurodevelopmental disorders - facts and fads.
Language-based learning disabilities. Non-verbal learning disabilities. Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Memory based learning disabilities. Taxonomies can be misleading!

Friday
The neuropsychology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Affective disorders - a curse and occasional blessing. Tourette's syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. Differential diagnoses involving dementia, seizure disorder and other conditions.

Elkhonon Goldberg, Ph.D., ABPP/ABCN, is a clinical professor of neurology, New York University School of Medicine. He also serves on the faculties of Columbia University, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, The City University of New York, and the Fielding Graduate University. He is a diplomate of The American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, with over 30 years of experience in neuropsychological diagnosis, cognitive rehabilitation, and forensic neuropsychology. Dr. Goldberg is internationally renowned for his clinical work, research, writings and teaching in the area of clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. His areas of expertise include executive deficit, memory disorders, attention deficit disorder, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and others. Dr. Goldberg was a student and close associate of the great neuropsychologist Alexander Luria. He is the author of Contemporary Neuropsychology and the Legacy of Luria (Lawrence Erlbaum, 1990) and of The Executive Control Battery (PsychPress, 2001). His book The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind (Oxford University Press, 2001) has received critical acclaim and has been published in 16 languages. His new book The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows Older (Gotham Books, Penguin, 2005) offers an innovative understanding of cognitive aging and what can be done to forestall cognitive decline. It has been published in 8 languages and counting, and has received wide international acclaim. Read more about his work at www.elkhonongoldberg.com.

Add to your Cape Cod Institute experience by ordering CD Audio recordings of this course here.