Investigating working memory deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Dept of Medicine
Abstract
Project Title: Investigating working memory deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Background:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in under 40s (1). Despite improved survival rates, cognitive impairment following TBI remains a significant and often difficult symptom to treat. Deficits in working memory (WM) among patients are common and can persist long after injury (2). These can lead to difficulties in returning to work and impact upon quality of life (3)
Working memory is an integral part of everyday functioning and is employed in a range of cognitive processes such as decision making, problem solving and performing actions (4). It can be defined as the ability to manipulate, retain and update information over a short period of time (5).
Numerous neuroimaging studies have implicated the frontal and parietal cortices as important in the function of working memory. These areas are prone to damage following TBI and disruption to white matter connections between these cortices may contribute to working memory deficits in TBI (6).
Evidence of plasticity, the brains ability to reorganize, following WM cognitive training has provided some promising results for use in TBI rehabilitation (7). However, there is limited evidence to suggest plasticity and improvements in cognitive training tasks have transferable and long-term benefits, particularly in the context of TBI (8).
Understanding the neurophysiological processes that underpin WM and the effects TBI has on these will help to inform the development and testing of cognitive training packages.
Aims:
My research will aim to:
1) Investigate the neural correlates of TBI related working memory impairment
2) Assess the efficacy of computerized training on improving working memory deficits
3) Identify if cognitive training in working memory provides global cognitive improvements.
Hypothesis:
(1) Disruption to structural and functional connectivity in the brain following TBI will correlate with WM impairment.
(2) Longitudinal cognitive training in WM will improve WM deficits, which will lead to improved global cognitive functioning and correlate with increased connectivity in the brain.
Research outcomes:
My research will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying working memory impairments following traumatic brain injury to help further our understanding of TBI related cognitive impairment. By employing structural and functional imaging as well as cognitive and quality of life measures we can begin to identify how working memory is impaired and the potential targets for interventional treatment to improve patients outcomes. This research will also provide empirical evidence of the effects of computerized working memory training within a TBI population, which has the potential to inform future research in cognitive re-training following TBI.
Background:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in under 40s (1). Despite improved survival rates, cognitive impairment following TBI remains a significant and often difficult symptom to treat. Deficits in working memory (WM) among patients are common and can persist long after injury (2). These can lead to difficulties in returning to work and impact upon quality of life (3)
Working memory is an integral part of everyday functioning and is employed in a range of cognitive processes such as decision making, problem solving and performing actions (4). It can be defined as the ability to manipulate, retain and update information over a short period of time (5).
Numerous neuroimaging studies have implicated the frontal and parietal cortices as important in the function of working memory. These areas are prone to damage following TBI and disruption to white matter connections between these cortices may contribute to working memory deficits in TBI (6).
Evidence of plasticity, the brains ability to reorganize, following WM cognitive training has provided some promising results for use in TBI rehabilitation (7). However, there is limited evidence to suggest plasticity and improvements in cognitive training tasks have transferable and long-term benefits, particularly in the context of TBI (8).
Understanding the neurophysiological processes that underpin WM and the effects TBI has on these will help to inform the development and testing of cognitive training packages.
Aims:
My research will aim to:
1) Investigate the neural correlates of TBI related working memory impairment
2) Assess the efficacy of computerized training on improving working memory deficits
3) Identify if cognitive training in working memory provides global cognitive improvements.
Hypothesis:
(1) Disruption to structural and functional connectivity in the brain following TBI will correlate with WM impairment.
(2) Longitudinal cognitive training in WM will improve WM deficits, which will lead to improved global cognitive functioning and correlate with increased connectivity in the brain.
Research outcomes:
My research will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying working memory impairments following traumatic brain injury to help further our understanding of TBI related cognitive impairment. By employing structural and functional imaging as well as cognitive and quality of life measures we can begin to identify how working memory is impaired and the potential targets for interventional treatment to improve patients outcomes. This research will also provide empirical evidence of the effects of computerized working memory training within a TBI population, which has the potential to inform future research in cognitive re-training following TBI.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| David Sharp (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Amy Jolly (Student) |