Executive functions after traumatic brain injury in adults

Cognitive functions including executive functions (FE) are affected following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), diminished patient's daily life. The purpose of the present study was measuring EF of adult moderate and severe TBI patients, and knows the neuropsychological profile related with lesion intensity. Participated 26 patients, divided in 10 with Moderate TBI (age=34.80 +/- 14.45; education=15.20 +/- 2.525 years); and 16 with Severe TBI (age=32.17 +/- 9.42; education=12.11 +/- 4.15 years), matched by age and level of education with a healthy control group. Participants were individually assessing with the Executive Function and Frontal Lobes Neuropsychological Battery (Flores, Ostrosky-Solis y Lozano, 2008). Results show that TBI patients mainly had problems in resolve the WCST, Hanoi Tower, Iowa Gambling Task, working memory and in process semantic information. At the same time shows decreased time in processing information, perseverations, intrusions, and less mental flexibility. Data suggest a major affection on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tasks. This data would help to design rehabilitation programs to cognitive intervention focused on EF. Los resultados sugieren mayor afeccion en tareas de la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral.