The categorization of common objects by adults with traumatic brain injury application of a systematic training program /

by Scharp, Victoria L.

THE CATEGORIZATION OF COMMON OBJECTS BY ADULTS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: APPLICATION OF A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING PROGRAM by Victoria L. Scharp This study investigated feature description abilities between normal subjects and subjects with traumatic brain injury across a continuum of stimulus modalities. Subjects were administered an extensive neuropsychological battery consisting of formal and informal measures prior to and following the completion of an eight level experimental Categorization Program. The objective of the present study was to analyze subject performance on the neuropsychological measures and the initial level (Level 1) of the Categorization Program. Overall, subjects with traumatic brain injury evidenced persistent deficits in information processing and cognitive flexibility; however, significant improvements were seen on functional outcome measures and informal tasks associated with the Categorization Program. Subjects with traumatic brain injury required more training trials in order to learn eight perceptual features and recalled fewer features per trial during the Feature Training Task, but they were able to apply the novel information presented and describe common objects effectively. The results of this study suggest that subjects with traumatic brain injury benefit from repeated presentations of information as it provides external structure and enhances working memory performance.