Network neuropsychology: The map and the territory

Ferguson, Cameron E. 2022. Network neuropsychology: The map and the territory. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 132 , pp. 638-647. 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.024

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Abstract

In “network neuropsychology”, network modelling and graph theory is applied to the neuropsychological test scores of patients with neurological disorders to investigate cognitive functioning. This review identifies the emerging literature on several disorders before focusing on the assumptions about cognition underlying the studies; specifically, that cognition can be thought of as a network of interrelated variables and that changes in these interrelationships, or cognitive rearrangement, can occur in neurological disorders. Next the review appraises how well network models can provide a “map” of this cognitive “territory”. In particular, the review considers the lack of correspondence between the variables and properties of network models and cognitive functioning. The challenges of explicitly accounting for latent cognitive constructs and making inferences about cognition based on associative, as opposed to dissociative, methods are also discussed. It is concluded that the validity of network neuropsychological models is yet to be established and that cognitive theory and experiments, as well as network models, are needed to develop and interpret better maps.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0149-7634
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 February 2022
Date of Acceptance:	16 November 2021
Last Modified:	13 Nov 2024 01:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/147160

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