Neurocognitive Assessment Laboratory
The mission of the Neurocognitive Assessment Laboratory at UVA is to provide specialized evaluation of brain-behavior relationships, through the measurement of cognitive and behavioral strengths and weaknesses, and to provide consultation to other health care professionals. We specialize in the assessment of neurocognitive aspects of the following disorders: closed head injury and other neurologic trauma, sports related concussion, cerebrovascular accidents and disease (e.g., stroke), neoplasms, central nervous system infection, mild age associated memory impairment, early identification of progressive neurologic disease, seizure disorders, general medical conditions with neurologic implications, organ transplant, ADHD, and substance abuse. The Neurocognitive Assessment Laboratory at UVA provides consultation to the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Internal Medicine, as well as to other departments at UVA, the UVA/Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, and a wide variety of practitioners from across the state and mid-Atlantic area.
Neuropsychological assessments consist of standardized, objective tests that quantify neurocognitive functions and deficits and compare each patient’s performance to a normative data sample of same age peers. These evaluations also include a clinical interview conducted by a clinical neuropsychologist, and an objective personality measure to identify any psychological distress that might be contributing to the symptom picture.
As part of the assessment, a wide range of thinking abilities and behaviors are examined to provide an understanding of a person’s brain functioning. The following cognitive functions are assessed: intellectual abilities, academic skills, attention and concentration, abstract reasoning/concept formation, cognitive processing speed, language and verbal ability, memory, rapid problem solving, visual-spatial skills, and sensory and motor performance.
The measurement of these individual behaviors and abilities provides important information about the functioning of the brain. Depending on the reason for referral, this information may be used to:
- Measure behavioral and cognitive impairments that result from brain injury, neurologic disease, or other medical illness.
- Establish a baseline of neurocognitive function that allows for comparison over time.
- Help in predicting long and short-term prognosis of various medical conditions with associated cognitive symptoms.
- Guide the planning and development of cognitive remediation, educational intervention, or vocational rehabilitation.
- Assist in planning return to work or school after neurologic injury or illness.
- Provide documentation for litigation based on the effects of brain injury, toxic exposures, or work related accidents and/or illness on cognitive and interpersonal behavior.