Presented by:
Clemente Vega, PsyD, ABPP-CN
About the Webinar:
A neuropsychology that incorporates a “cross-culture” perspective must integrate the essential knowledge base of brain-behavior relationships and cognitive processes with an understanding of how brains are differently shaped by interacting in the world. Historically, ‘culture’ has not been consistently integrated into neuropsychological practice, and the focus in the past was mainly on tests and psychometrics. Furthermore, theoretical orientations with expansive or reductionist perspectives on human behavior such as relativism and universalism are not supported as originally applied. In recent decades, it has become increasingly clear that a cross-cultural approach to neuropsychological assessment must integrate many facets of human brain-behavior that are shared by all members of the species and the environment that shapes the development and presentation of behavior. Therefore, the application and interpretation of available psychological instruments when working with bilinguals vary from individual to individual, and must neuropsychologists must account for test limitations in the context of differences in languages, education/literacy, immigration/acculturation, behavioral approaches in testing, and other cultural factors.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify clinically-relevant variables that comprise a culture-centered approach and are necessary to provide quality neuropsychological assessment
- Describe bilingualism in a developmental context that can be characterized by levels of degree, and with possible impact on cognition beyond language processing systems.
- Identify available standardized assessment instruments with their limitations, and discuss clinical applications.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Vega is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and a certified subspecialist in pediatric neuropsychology. He joined the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital following postdoctoral fellowship training at the Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery. Current clinical and academic efforts focus on pediatric epilepsy syndromes, neurosurgical outcomes, and cross-cultural application of neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Vega has an academic appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. He is also the Director of Training in the Center for Neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Vega also maintains an independent practice in criminal and civil forensic neuropsychology.
Intended Audience:
Licensed psychologists and neuropsychologists
The Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society maintains responsibility for this program and its content.