When the Walls Come Crashing Down

The Neuropsychology of Grief

Abstract

Losing a loved one comes with a plethora of difficult emotions to navigate. Previous research done on grief and bereavement has mainly focused on its psychological effects, while the neuropsychological aspects are seldom investigated. In order to provide a more objective viewpoint on the aftermath of losing a loved one, a summary of this research is required. Although grief is expressed differently by each individual that comes to face it, the literature has shown that there are commonalities when it comes to the way our brains are affected. Experiencing grief changes three large parts of our life: our brain, our attachment, and our coping afterwards.