THE IMPLICATIONS OF LIMITATIONS IN HYDROCARBON RESEARCH FOR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

As neuropsychologists are involved increasingly in the neuropsychologi cal assessment of individuals reporting both acute and long-term expos ure to hydrocarbons, the value of research for providing guidance also increases. Research findings inform neuropsychologists about likely n europsychological deficits given certain intensity and duration of exp osure and about neuropsychological rests most appropriate Sor detectin g hydrocarbon-induced deficits. Although high-dose events are associat ed with neuropsychological deficits, methodological weaknesses in the existing research impede a consensus on the implications of low-dose e xposures in humans. Three paws inherent in research on low-dose hydroc arbon exposures and their implications for neuropsychological assessme nt of individuals are discussed: Selection bias in recruitment of rese arch participants, biased recall of research research participants, an d between-study variation in neuropsychological tests and results. Bec ause they undermine the reliability and validity of existing research, lack of awareness of these weaknesses may interfere with unbiased ass essment of individual patients suspected of hydrocarbon-induced neurop sychological deficits. Examples from the social-cognitive psychologica l literature contribute to understanding how misleading research findi ngs can lead experts to form expectancies that bins assessment of indi viduals. (C) 1997 National Academy of Neuropsychology.