Brain imaging correlates of verbal working memory in children following traumatic brain injury

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a wide range of physiological, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive sequelae. Litigation status is one of the many factors that has an impact on recovery. The aim of this study was to compare executive functions, postconcussion, and depressive symptoms in TBI patients with and without litigation. A sample of 30 patients with TBI, 15 patients with litigation (medicolegal case [MLC]), and 15 without litigation (non-MLC) was assessed. The tools used were sociodemographic and clinical proforma, executive function tests, Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory. Assessment revealed that more than 50% of patients showed deficits in category fluency, set shifting, and concept formation. The MLC group showed significant impairment on verbal working memory in comparison to the non-MLC group. The performance of both groups was comparable on tests of semantic fluency, visuospatial working memory, concept formation, set shifting, planning, and response inhibition. The MLC group showed more verbal working memory deficits in the absence of significant postconcussion and depressive symptoms on self-report measures.

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Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: A Case Series in Verbal Working Memory Treatments for Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury Deficits

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig19-2019-0014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 1199-1213

Author(s):

Teryl Jean Wood ◽

Keith Wolgemuth

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Working Memory ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Standardized Testing ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Case Series ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Language Training ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Rhythmic Language

Purpose Individuals with traumatic brain injury may suffer chronic cognitive–linguistic deficits in areas such as verbal working memory, which impede attainment of long-term rehabilitation goals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individual rehabilitation programs focusing on cognitive skill building of memory and attention in the verbal domain may provide comparable outcomes to traditional compensatory, mnemonics-based training approaches. Method Rhythmic language training is presented as a novel therapeutic tool for targeting discrete cognitive skills that may provide specific benefits for chronic traumatic brain injury symptoms that conventional therapy programs may not. Standardized testing with the California Verbal Learning Test–Second Edition ( Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 2000 ) was used for pre- and posttest comparisons in 2 cases presented as a series. Electroencephalography was employed concurrently with behavioral testing to examine changes in working memory for each case. Results Posttest measurements indicated positive changes in verbal working memory occurred, but to different degrees for each participant. Conclusion The preliminary positive effects observed in standardized testing for the experimental method of rhythmic language training warrant further investigation for potential clinical applications.

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