What Careers Involve Neuropsychology?
I am student in Biology following the premed track. I have always been interested in the field of neuropsychology. I wanted to share some information about jobs that include neuropsychology that I found helpful.
First of all, I would like to define what neuropsychology is. Neuropsychology combines both biological and psychological aspects of the nervous system. It focuses on how the brain influences a person’s cognition and behavior. Cognition refers to mental processes that help us make sense of the world such as reasoning, attention, perception, memory, language, and learning.
In order to practice neuropsychology, you do not need to have a M.D. In fact, neuropsychology is a branch of psychology. There are many careers that involve neuropsychology. A neuropsychologist can be viewed as the brain’s physiotherapist. After a brain injury for instance, if your memory has been impaired, a neuropsychologist can help you regain your memory skills. In addition, a neuropsychologist conducts evaluations to test your cognitive abilities. The usual road to be neuropsychologist involves earning a bachelor degree, a master degree and for further study a Ph.D or PsyD. However, a neuropsychologist cannot prescribe medications. You can also work in research settings whether in a laboratory working on animals or as clinical neuropsychologist evaluating patients.
In addition, if you wish to pursue a career in medicine that involve neuropsychology, you can become neuropsychiatrist or behavioral neurologist. A neuropsychiatrist studies diseases of the nervous system that contribute to mental disorders and usually completes residency in psychiatry and then fellowship in neuropsychiatry. A behavioral neurologist usually completes residency in neurology and then fellowship behavioral neurology. A behavioral neurologist specializes in the same areas but also studies aphasia (loss of language) and other language disorders.
Resources:
https://bianj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/faqaboutneuropsychiatrists.pdf
https://achievewellnessgroup.net/psychiatry/neuropsychiatrist-right-treatement/
