Authors:

FISH, J., Williams, H., WILSON, B.A. & EMSLIE, H.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2005

CBU number:

6245

Abstract:

Problems with prospective remembering are a frequent sequela of brain injury, and yet problems of this type remain poorly understood. We aimed to establish which cognitive processes are critical for prospective remembering, and to examine the impact of compensatory strategy use on prospective memory performance. Neuropsychological tests of memory, attention and executive functioning were administered to participants with acquired brain injury (ABI; n=23), and controls (n=18), along with a new test of prospective memory (CAMPROMPT, Wilson et al, in press). Self-report measures of mood and memory problems were also taken. Partial correlations identified measures of attention and planning as related to prospective memory performance when controlling for brain injury. Prose recall scores correlated with prospective memory scores only within the control group. ABI participants performed worse than controls on the CAMPROMPT overall, but analysis of strategy use revealed that taking thorough notes facilitated performance to such an extent that ABI and control performance was indistinguishable. Taking partial notes had no such facilitatory effect. The implications of this research are twofold: for the study of prospective memory, that nonmnemonic influences should not be underestimated; and for neuropsychological rehabilitation, that the quality of strategy used might be as important as its initial implementation.Abstracts Presented at the International Neuropsychological Society, British Neuropsychological Society and the Division of Neuropsychology of the British Psychological Society Joint Mid–Year Meeting, July 6–9, 2005, Dublin, Ireland