Chapter 9 -- Intellectual and Neuropsychological Assessment

I. Definitions of Intelligence
A. Ability to learn (perceive)
B. Adaptation to new situations (respond)
C. Abstract thinking that uses symbols (plan)

II. Theories of Intelligence
A. Factor analyses with a “g” factor (general intelligence) and “s” factors (specific intelligences)
B. Fluid (nonverbal, adapt to new situations)
C. Crystallized (verbal, skills and knowledge of culture)
D. Multiple (linguistic, spatial, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, and personal)

III. Measurement Issues
A. Innate capacity vs. current performance
B. A single, global, general ability vs. a set of specific abilities
C. Intelligence is independent of emotion, motivation, and personality vs. closely tied to these factors

IV. Correlates of IQ
A. Academic Grades correlate about .5 with IQ scores
B. Occupational status and achievement correlate about .3 with IQ scores
C. Parents’ IQ scores correlate about .4 with their children’s IQ
D. Males score higher on spatial ability and after puberty higher on quantitative ability
E. Females score higher on verbal ability

V. Intelligence Scales
A. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth edition (WISC-V)
1. 21 subtests (7 subtests for Full Scale IQ)
2. 5 factors (2 subtests per factor) a. Verbal Comprehension
b. Visual Spatial
c. Fluid Reasoning
d. Working Memory
e. Processing Speed
B. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales – Fifth edition (SB-5)
1. 10 subtests (2 subtests per factor)
2. 5 factors
a. Fluid Reasoning
b. Knowledge
c. Quantitative Reasoning
d. Visual-Spatial Processing
e. Working Memory

VI. Achievement Testing
A. Accomplishments (grades) in reading, spelling, writing, and math
B. Learning Disability when achievement is less than ability and there is evidence of below average skills
C. Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-III measures reading, math, and written and oral language

VII. Neuropsychological Assessment
A. Tests of intelligence, language, attention, abstract reasoning, short- and long-term memory, and visual-spatial processing
B. Standard battery includes comprehensive set of measures
C. Hypothesis testing approach includes a limited set of measures
D. Halstead-Reitan and Luria-Nebraska Batteries are comprehensive

VIII. Characteristics of the Brain
A. Brain Structure
1. Left hemisphere controls right side of the body and verbal ability
2. Right hemisphere controls left side of the body and spatial ability
B. Cerebral Cortex Functioning
1. Frontal lobe: executive functions, behavioral control, emotional modulation
2. Parietal lobe: tactile perception, spatial perception, some language understanding and processing
3. Occipital lobe: visual processing and visual memory
4. Temporal lobe: language expression, reception, and analysis, auditory processing