Script knowledge after severe traumatic brain injury

Citation
F. Cazalis et al., Script knowledge after severe traumatic brain injury, J INT NEURO, 7(7), 2001, pp. 795-804
Citations number
39
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Neurology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ISSN journal
1355-6177 → ACNP
Volume
7
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
795 - 804
Database
ISI
SICI code
1355-6177(200111)7:7<795:SKASTB>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Severe diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI) may impair the performance of d aily-life complex activities. The aim of the present study was to assess wh ether these difficulties are related to a representational impairment of ac tion knowledge. Two tasks requiring the manipulation of scripts were used. The first (script reconstitution) required subjects to sort cards describin g actions belonging to 4 different scripts, presented in a random order. Th e second (script generation) required subjects to generate actions belongin g to a given script. The results showed that TBI patients had preserved acc ess to goal representation and action knowledge. However, they demonstrated (1) significant impairments when they had to deal with simultaneous compet ing sources of information and (2) a lack of inhibitory control on routine overlearned skills. Patients' performance was significantly correlated with behavioral modifications in everyday life. These data suggest that action impairment in severe TBI patients cannot be attributed to an impairment of action knowledge per se. As previously suggested by Schwartz et al., a rest riction of limited-capacity processing resources may account for the observ ed deficits.