Neuropsychological Review
Inside Out of Memory and Emotions
By Victoria A. Grunberg, M.S.

Inside Out (2015) is an entertaining cartoon film that demonstrates the emotional complexity and development of an 11-year old girl, Riley Andersen, as she experiences the stress of moving across the country with her parents and adjusting to a new school and new friends. From a neuropsychological perspective, the movie demonstrates several facts regarding the impact of emotions on memory, how sleep is related to memory consolidation, and the role of emotions for interpersonal functioning. This film appeals to all ages, and could be used to open discussions with children regarding emotions, challenging situations, and how to cope.  

Neuropsychological Review
Trapped in my Mind
Justin W. White

Cognitively alert, you can think, you can see, but you can’t move a thing, and as a result, you are unable to communicate through verbal or motor means, effectively placing a human being in a tomb of flesh (Kobert, 2008). This unimaginable experience is the stark reality for patients who experience a condition known as ‘locked-in syndrome.’ In The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (based on the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean Dominique Bauby), Mathieu Amalric plays the role of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of a trendy French magazine who suddenly experiences a stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA)​.

Neuropsychological Review
CTE: The brain disease that is changing the NFL
Timothy J. Grillo

​Concussion depicts Dr. Bennett Omalu’s efforts to identify what was causing former NFL players to exhibit signs of psychosis and dementia. Omalu, a neuropathologist is staggered when he analyzes a former player’s brain. He was expecting to see an ugly degraded brain, like the brain of someone suffering Alzheimer’s disease, but to his surprise the brain of former Pittsburg Steeler Mike Webster looked different (Kirk, 2013). 

An Autistic boy finds himself at the butt of most jokes in his school until he utilizes his online gaming skills in order to seek courage and revenge.

Ben is a young high school student who falls on the Autism Spectrum Scale. Because he is different, many students find it acceptable to pick and bully Ben. Consequently, he finds himself disassociating during these traumatic experiences and honing in on his online video game persona. Through his process of gaming, Ben builds a relationship with a girl coined his “helper”. His      helper assists him in building not only courage in standing up for his rights but revenge on the bullies.

Neuropsychological Review
Behind the Eyes of a Boy With Autism
Lisa Vallone

BenX is a heart-wrenching tale regarding an Autistic boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While Ben is known as somewhat of a social pariah, he excels in learning, his store of knowledge, and most importantly, video gaming.  Due to his social differences, Ben finds himself the victim of many merciless pranks at the hands of school bullies. At school Ben is different, but online he is just as good, if not better, than any other player.
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Neuropsychological Review
The Changing Self in Alzheimer’s Disease: a Personal Perspective Through “Still Alice”
Daniel G. Smith, M. S. (Contact )

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) can be called the “ultimate thief” insofar as we define ourselves as “the sum of our combined experiences” (Wolfson, 2008). In Still Alice (based on the fictional book I’m Still Alice by neuroscientist Lisa Genova), Julianne Moore gives a stellar portrayal of Alice, a strong woman who must face a life with early-onset (familial) Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). A woman who defines herself by her intellect and strong facility with language must adapt to the many existential dilemmas and at the center, a fundamental loss of self that arises with this chronic, progressive, and at present, incurable condition.

An 8 year old girl from Australia becomes a pen friend to to a middle aged man in New York City with Asperger's Syndrome.

This quirky animated black comedy explores the friendship of two social misfits through their letters.  Among Max's  mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, he is also diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He calls himself an Aspie and goes on to describe the traits he has which fit what others call his "disability". Max stands firm in his self-assessment that he doesn't feel defective or need to be cured. He simply doesn't understand how humans can be so illogical.  When Mary writes a book about his disorder, their friendship is sorely tested. This film doesn't hold back on black humor nor the effects of not being accepted.  A movie about friendship.

A young woman miraculously survives a serial killer's attack only to be stricken with prosopagnosia, a disorder that prevents her from recognizing faces.

A young woman named Anna sees her world turned upside down when she becomes the sole witness to a murder and also suffers an injury that leaves her unable to recognize people by their faces, including the killer. Struggling with prosopagnosia, also known as "face blindness", Anna must learn how to navigate a world full of friends who look like strangers, and strangers who could be killers.  Can she see people for who they really are before the killer comes for her? 

Neuropsychological Review 
Face Blindness: Losing Others, Losing Yourself
Caitlin Potter


There is nothing so comforting as recognizing the face of a loved one amongst a veritable sea of strangers.  Imagine what life would be like if you lost the ability to recognize a friend, family member, and even yourself! ...