The Clinical Neuropsychologist

Advancing the Science and Practice of Neuropsychology: Current Challenges and Future Directions

The field of neuropsychology is undergoing important changes. Advances in technology, evolving clinical demands, and ongoing conceptual debates are reshaping both research and practice. These developments create new opportunities for the field, but also highlight conceptual, methodological, or translational limitations that warrant careful consideration. This special issue seeks to bring together forward-looking, empirically grounded perspectives that identify key challenges and propose directions for the future of neuropsychology. We invite contributions that go beyond traditional reviews to offer clear, well-argued perspectives grounded in the literature, with an emphasis on:

• ·         Identifying critical gaps, limitations, or misconceptions in current research or clinical practice
• ·         Highlighting emerging opportunities, innovations or interdisciplinary connections
• ·         Proposing actionable directions for research, clinical practice, intervention, or policy

We particularly welcome contributions that integrate empirical evidence with practical implications, and that offer constructive guidance for advancing the field.

Possible Topics of Interest

    Fundamental Conceptual and Methodological Questions: Are our current conceptual models adequate for contemporary neuropsychology?

•           What are we measuring? The challenge of defining cognitive constructs.
•           Reproducibility and replicability in neuropsychology.
•           Cultural validity and the future of norms
•           Moving beyond traditional normative models.
•           Real-world cognition: conceptual and validation challenges
•           Addressing truisms that may no longer apply

Assessment-related Challenges: What should neuropsychological assessment look like in the next decade.

•            Electronic versions of legacy tests (WAIS, D-KEFS, etc.); digital and remote assessment; real-world functional assessment
•            AI-assisted assessment and interpretation
•            Integration of other types of passive and active digital markers (e.g., wearables, cognitive EMA, internet use) with neuropsychological assessment
•            Whether neuropsychology should continue to rely primarily on office-based testing

Diagnostic Paradigm Shifts: How should neuropsychology adapt its approaches to diagnosis and classification as advances in biomarkers and neuroscience reshape our understanding of brain disorders?

•           Diagnosis in the biomarker era
•           Disease classification versus neurobehavioral syndromes
•           Pathology-based approaches versus functional outcomes
•           Precision neuropsychology and individualized phenotyping

Intervention and Rehabilitation-related Challenges: How do we maximize real-world benefits for patients?

•           Challenges surrounding developing, testing, and integrating assistive technology for cognition
•           Measuring meaningful outcomes
•           Personalized versus manualized interventions         
•      Cost-effectiveness, regulatory, and reimbursement pathways
•           Brain health, neuropsychology as public health

Implementation, System, and Equity: How can neuropsychology ensure that scientific advances translate into equitable, accessible, and sustainable benefits across diverse populations and settings?

•           Implementation science in neuropsychology – how do we get interventions used in real-world settings
•           Health disparities and access to neuropsychology
•           Alternative approaches to equity assessment
•           Political challenges affecting DEI efforts
•           Global neuropsychology
•           Access to service

The Future of the Profession: What should neuropsychologists know, do, and contribute in the coming decades as technology, healthcare systems, and interdisciplinary models of care evolve?

•           Training neuropsychologist for the future; preparing for AI-enabled practice
•           The future of peer review
•           Training guidelines and competencies
•           The evolving role of neuropsychologists within integrated healthcare teams, multidisciplinary research programs, and technology-enhanced clinical environments