The Development of Neuropsychology (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

What is neuropsychology?

• Neuropsychology is the study of how the structure and function of the brain relate to behaviour and cognition

• It was developed to help psychologists understand and measure how brain damage or illness affects memory and other cognitive abilities

• By identifying which parts of the brain are impaired, neuropsychologists can support diagnosis and plan suitable treatment

The role of the Wechsler Memory Scale

• One of the most widely used tools in neuropsychology is the Wechsler Memory Scale

• It was developed to measure different types of memory and assess how well each one is functioning

  • The test can be used with people aged 16 to 90

  • It includes seven subtests:

    • spatial addition

    • symbol span

    • design memory

    • general cognitive screener

    • logical memory

    • verbal paired associates

    • visual reproduction

  • Results are grouped into five key areas:

    • auditory memory

    • visual memory

    • visual working memory

    • immediate memory,

    • delayed memory

• These scores help psychologists identify whether a person’s memory problems are general or limited to specific types (e.g., visual vs. verbal)

Why is it important?

• The Wechsler Memory Scale helps determine the extent of brain damage after injury or illness (e.g., stroke, head trauma, dementia)

• It enables clinicians to track recovery or deterioration over time

• It supports treatment planning — knowing which areas of memory are affected helps design tailored rehabilitation

• The scale also provides valuable data for research into how different brain areas support memory functions