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Abstract:
Abstract: This study presents results of a pilot study
investigating the hypothesis that tasks of prospective memory (PM:
memory for performing future intentions) would be sensitive to the
effects of closed-head injury (CHI) in children ages 6-16. Children
in the CHI group (N=14) had a post-resuscitation GCS of 3-8 with no
previous history of head injury or major psychiatric disorder.
Normal, uninjured children were recruited for the control group
(N=21). There were no differences between the groups for age (M =
11.3 years; p=.42) or socioeconomic status (p=.51). Four
PM tasks using 30-minute delay were used including event-based (EB:
stopping an on-going behavior to perform intention after cue) or
activity-based (AB: performing an intention between other on-going
activities) tasks which were either single or 2-stage (1 or 2
intentions to be performed). Children in the CHI group performed
significantly worse than controls on all 4 measures (p
<.05). Single and 2-stage scores were summed yielding Total
EB, Total AB, and Total PM (EB + AB) composite scores. Age effects
were found for Total EB and Total PM. The summed composite PM
scores demonstrated greater sensitivity to the effects of CHI than
individual task scores. These results suggest that PM tasks are
sensitive to CHI in children. Further study of PM deficits in
children with CHI are currently underway.
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