Neuropsychology of Toxic Exposure

Environmental and occupational toxic exposures rarely leave a single, unmistakable mark on the brain. Instead, they quietly, cumulatively, and often invisibly alter cognition, emotion, and behavior. Neuropsychology of Toxic Exposure brings clarity to this complex terrain, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding how toxic agents disrupt brain–behavior relationships across the lifespan and how those effects can be assessed, treated, and prevented. Bridging neurotoxicology, neuroscience, and clinical neuropsychology, this volume translates biological injury into functional meaning. It examines how metals, pesticides, solvents, gases, biological toxins, and extreme exposures affect attention, memory, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. The emphasis is on subtle neurocognitive change, longitudinal assessment, and the integration of neuropsychological data with neuroimaging, biomarkers, and exposure history. Written for clinicians, researchers, and policy professionals, the book goes beyond mechanisms of injury to address rehabilitation, recovery, forensic evaluation, and public health implications. Case examples illustrate diagnostic challenges and differential considerations, and later chapters explore lifespan vulnerability, environmental justice, and the role of neuropsychology in litigation and policy development. At its core, Neuropsychology of Toxic Exposure argues that brain health is a shared responsibility—one that requires scientific rigor, clinical precision, and informed policy. By integrating science, practice, and prevention, this book offers essential guidance for protecting cognitive function in an increasingly toxic world. This book provides in-depth coverage of: • Neuropsychological principles for assessing toxic exposure • Brain–behavior effects of metals, pesticides, solvents, gases, and biological toxins • Acute versus chronic exposure and cumulative neurotoxicity • Developmental and lifespan vulnerability, from prenatal exposure to aging • Neuroimaging and biomarker integration in exposure assessment • Cognitive rehabilitation and recovery following toxic injury • Occupational and environmental health considerations • Forensic neuropsychology and toxic exposure litigation • Environmental justice, prevention, and public policy implications Neuropsychology of Toxic Exposure is an essential resource for professionals seeking to understand, assess, and respond to the cognitive and emotional consequences of toxic exposure in humans.