Alterations in working memory due to mild traumatic brain injury: evidences from neuropsychiatric tests - A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background and Objective: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) is a common condition seen in neurosurgery, representing 80% of all head trauma patients admitted to hospital. With this study an attempt was made to determine cognitive impairments (particularly working memory dysfunction) caused as a sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury because correlations have been drawn since long amongst them and no significant data regarding the same is available. To assess the cognitive deficits in the working memory of subjects who have suffered mTBI with a GCS of 15/15 admitted in neurosurgery ward of Prabhakar Kore Charitable hospital, Belgaum. Methodology: A cross sectional study from February to July 2019 was carried out on 30 patients in neurosurgery department of KLEH, JNMC, Statistical analysis was done using SSPS version 20 and Unpaired T test was performed. The following tests were performed-Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (working memory) and Symbol Digit Modality Test (working memory). Results: Scores for ROCF figure copy score 31.7 ± 3.21, ROCF figure recall 20.5 ± 6.7, and correct score in SDMT 45.7 ± 1.2 were characteristically lower as compared to normative data. Conclusion: The working memory showed impairments and deviation from normative findings. The functional alterations in the pathway of formation and retrieval of memory involving the decoupling of the dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC) causes impaired divided attention and inability to shift flexibly between attentional sets andreduced executive functioning that integrates the processing and interaction of cognitive processes

Keywords

• rocf
• sdmt
• working memory
• traumatic brain injury