An Introduction to Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery

Kim, Y C

Abstract

Overall purposes of neuropsychological tests are summarized as follows : 1) Indentifying brain damage in individuals who have symptoms of uncertain etiology : 2) Assessing the extent and nature of deficits for forensic purposes and planning appropriate intervention : 3) Evaluating the effects of intervention or rehabilitation ; 4) Examining the effects of various types of brain damage across different populations ; and 5) Testing theoretical propositions about brain-behavior relationship. Of the neuropsychological tests, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery(LNNB)is easily transportable, relatively inexpensive, and performable by trained technician. The Korean version of LNNB is now being designed and will be used clinically in the near future. Localization and equipotential theories of brain function had been prevalent until Luria's theory of brain function. Brain, composed of three brain units in th theory, is the functional system in which each brain area has specific function and produce the function-related behavior. LNNB consists of 11 clinical scales, 5 summary scales, 8 localization scales, and 28 factor scales.