The effect of traumatic brain injury on sustained attention and working memory

Abstract

This study provides further evidence of WM deficits following TBI as well as possible SA deficits in some individuals. The results also suggest that WM and SA are inter-related processes. Future studies are needed to replicate the results with larger sample sizes. Based on these findings, patients with TBI may present with WM and SA deficits.

Sustained attention following traumatic brain injury: Use of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task

“…Although research to date has primarily examined sustained attention using PVT summary statistics (i.e., mean RT, number of lapses, and RTV), there is growing evidence to suggest that examination of the distribution of RTs as well as individual differences can provide greater insight into the processes of sustained attention than group mean analyses alone (Edinger, Means, Carney, & Krystal, 2008;Epstein et al, 2009;Hervey et al, 2006;Hultsch, MacDonald, & Dixon, 2002;Leth-Steensen, Elbaz, & Douglas, 2000;Myerson et al, 2007;Rouder et al, 2005;Slovarp et al, 2012;Whyte et al, 1995). For example, in children with attention disorders who were previously shown to have slower mean RT than controls (Teicher, Ito, Glod, & Barber, 1996), closer examination of RT distributions revealed that these children actually demonstrate a greater proportion of abnormally slow RT rather than a pattern of generalized slowing (Leth-Steensen et al, 2000;Teicher et al, 1996).…”

“…In particular, experimental assessment of sustained attention has traditionally involved continuous performance tests (CPTs), whereby participants respond as quickly as possible to a periodically presented stimulus over prolonged (i.e., > 45 min) testing periods (Kindlon, 1998). Using these tasks, and relative to noninjured controls, individuals with moderate to severe TBI have exhibited slower reaction times (RTs) and increased attentional lapses (Belmont, Agar, & Azouvi, 2009;Mathias & Wheaton, 2007;Ponsford & Kinsella, 1992;Slovarp, Azuma, & LaPointe, 2012;Whyte, Polansky, Fleming, Coslett, & Cavallucci, 1995;Ziino & Ponsford, 2006b). While some studies have also reported increased variability in attention and/or greater decrement in performance across the task in patients with TBI (Hetherington, Stuss, & Finlayson, 1996;Whyte et al, 1995), this has not been a consistent outcome across studies (Belmont et al, 2009;Ponsford & Kinsella, 1992;Riese et al, 1999;Ziino & Ponsford, 2006b).…”

Medial Septal Nucleus Theta Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Spatial Working Memory after Traumatic Brain Injury

“…[1][2][3] Attention and working memory deficits are particularly common in patients who have experienced TBI, and there are no proven treatments to promote recovery from these deficits. 4 Recent clinical evidence suggests that deep brain stimulation (DBS) has the potential to improve memory function in diseases such as Alzheimer's 5 and epilepsy, 6 but this treatment strategy has not been explored following TBI.…”

Cognitive functioning following traumatic brain injury: A five-year follow-up

“…Assessment of people with TBI has consistently found impairment in all aspects of attention (Kennedy, Clement, & Curtiss, 2003;Slovarp, Azuma, & LaPointe, 2012). Similarly impairment in most aspects of both verbal and visual memory functioning is also commonly reported following TBI (Vakil, 2005;Ashton, Donders, & Hoffman, 2005;Schwarz, Penna, & Novack, 2009).…”