What Is Neuropsychology: How Brain Function Affects Thinking, Emotions, and Behaviour

“I am a neuropsychologist, and my responsibility is to help people understand how their brain functions affect thinking, emotions, and behaviours. I use specialized assessment tools to evaluate cognitive abilities and guide treatment, rehabilitation, and support.”

Many people have heard of psychology, but not often neuropsychology. Yet, neuropsychology plays an important role in how we navigate everyday life, especially when someone starts noticing changes in memory, attention, mood, or behaviour and wants to understand why. The mental health profession in Ontario is becoming more diverse and it is important to understand what neuropsychology is and how it is different from psychology, what a neuropsychological assessment involves, and how it contributes uniquely to answering these complex questions about brain functioning and behaviour.

What is Neuropsychology?

So, what is neuropsychology? Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on how the brain influences the way we think, feel, and behave. This field merges psychology with neuroscience, which helps us better understand how different brain systems contribute to important skills that we rely on every day, such as:

• Remembering names and appointments

• Concentrating at work

• Understanding language

• Interpreting pictures and puzzles

• Making decisions

• Managing emotions

• Solving problems

Neuropsychologists apply the science of neuropsychology to real-world situations. In clinics, hospitals, and private practices, they support individuals who are experiencing changes in their thinking, mood, or behaviour. These changes can occur for many reasons, such as medical conditions, concussions, developmental differences, aging, or emotional stress. And we can figure out what is going on through a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.

When Could a Neuropsychological Assessment Help Me?

People often seek a neuropsychological assessment when something about their thinking, behaviour, or emotions feels “off,” unclear, or difficult to explain. Here are a few common scenarios that many people find relatable:

Memory concerns

For example, a 54-year-old teacher notices she’s forgetting conversations and misplacing items more often. She's worried:

“Is this stress? Normal aging? Or something more?”

An assessment can help distinguish normal memory variation from early cognitive changes related to health, sleep, mood, or neurological conditions.

Difficulty concentrating

A university student recovering from a concussion finds that reading a single page takes enormous effort. They wonder if symptoms are lingering longer than normal. Testing can clarify which cognitive skills—attention, processing speed, or memory—have been affected and what supports can help them return to school confidently.

Challenges with decision-making or problem-solving

A successful entrepreneur notices he’s making mistakes with finances and struggling to plan his day. He feels overwhelmed and unlike himself. An assessment can identify whether these changes are linked to stress, burnout, ADHD, depression, or neurological factors.

Mental health concerns affecting thinking

People with anxiety or depression sometimes feel as though their brain is “foggy.” A neuropsychological assessment can help identify what’s caused by mood versus what may be related to learning differences, attention issues, or a medical condition.

Returning to work or school after an illness or injury

Individuals recovering from stroke, brain injury, long COVID, or major medical treatments may need documentation of their cognitive recovery. Assessment results help determine readiness to return to work or school—and guide accommodations that make the transition safer and more successful.

As these examples above show, the reason for changes to our thinking skills can vary. The main goal of a neuropsychological assessment is to understand why difficulties with thinking and handling daily life are happening and how best to address them.

What Actually Happens During a Neuropsychological Assessment?

Many people imagine something intimidating or clinical, but the process is structured, supportive, and often surprisingly interesting.

Step 1: The Interview – Understanding Your Story

The assessment begins with a detailed conversation about your:

• Medical history

• Education and work experience

• Daily functioning

• Family and mental health history

• Strengths and concerns

If helpful, information may also be gathered (with your permission) from someone who knows you well—like a family member, caregiver, teacher, or healthcare provider. This helps create a full picture of how you are functioning across different areas of life.

Step 2: Cognitive Testing – A Deep Dive Into How Your Brain Works

Next comes standardized testing that are designed to measure different areas of thinking:

• Attention and concentration

• Memory (visual and verbal)

• Language

• Visual-spatial skills

• Processing speed

• Planning, organizing, and reasoning (Executive functioning)

Some tasks involve paper-and-pencil activities; others use a computer or require verbal responses. To fully capture your experiences, you may be asked to complete questionnaires about your mood, daily habits and limitations, and symptoms. The testing is lengthy and can take several hours, but this is to be expected since the assessment looks at the brain from many angles. Despite the time it takes, most people find this to be an interesting experience as it dives deeply into understanding how complex and capable our brains can be.

Step 3: Interpretation and Feedback -- Making Sense of the Results

After testing, the neuropsychologist analyzes the results and integrates them with your history and symptoms. This leads to a detailed understanding of:

• Your cognitive strengths

• Areas of difficulty

• Why those difficulties are happening

• What can be done to support improvement or compensation

You receive these findings in a feedback session, along with practical recommendations tailored to your life, goals, and challenges. Depending on the reason for the assessment, a diagnosis of a cognitive or psychological disorder will also be shared with you if the results of the assessment warrants such a conclusion. This latter point is important when determining who to seek out for support. Keep in mind that psychologists, and a small group of healthcare providers in Ontario (medical physicians, nurse practitioners), are able to do communicate a formal psychological diagnosis to you.

Why Do Neuropsychological Assessments Matter?

Neuropsychological assessments are powerful because they answer questions that everyday medical appointments often cannot. When you know why you’re struggling, uncertainty and anxiety decrease. For example, learning that memory issues are caused by untreated anxiety—not early dementia—can be life-changing. Assessment results from a neuropsychologist can also help guide next steps: therapy or medical treatment, rehabilitation, workplace accommodations, or school supports. It also provides validation as people often say, “I knew something was going on and now I finally have proof.”

Understanding your challenges reduces self-blame and increases self-compassion. And with the right strategies, people regain confidence, independence, and control over their daily lives. In addition, loved ones who are also part of this process can gain insight into how to provide the right kind of support that does not rely on guesswork or lead to misunderstandings about what is going on.

As a neuropsychologist, my goal is to transform complex questions about your brain into clear, meaningful, and personalized answers. When you understand your own strengths and challenges, as well as the reasons behind them, you can face daily life with greater confidence and support.