Date of Award

Spring 2016

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Neuroscience

First Advisor

Sarah Raskin, PhD

Abstract

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) includes any damage to the brain resulting from traumatic (e.g. motor vehicle accident) or non-traumatic (e.g. stroke) incidence, that occurs after birth and is not resulting from genetic or congenital factors. Individuals with ABI report that prospective memory (PM) deficits are the most detrimental cognitive impairment following injury, persistently and negatively impacting their ability to function properly in everyday life. PM refers to the ability to remember to carry out intended tasks in the future, including the recall of both time and event regulated intentions. Using neuropsychological assessments to produce patient deficit profiles, this study examines the effectiveness of individualized cognitive rehabilitation therapies: attention process training (APT) or PM training, for improving PM in ABI. Participants were randomly assigned to groups, completing 10 sessions of either cognitive rehabilitation (n=4) or educational programming (n=3). Using the Memory for Intentions Screening Test (MIST), intra and inter treatment analyses examined the effectiveness of individualized cognitive rehabilitation for improving PM in ABI (N=7).

Comments

Master's thesis completed at Trinity College, Hartford Connecticut for the degree of Master of Arts in Neuroscience.

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