COGNITIVE ABILITIES FOLLOWING CLOSED-HEAD BRAIN INJURY

拟议的项目将连接两个研究领域，一个是关于 闭合性颅脑损伤的恢复和长期影响，以及 其他关于视觉意象在记忆和认知中的作用， 正常和脑损伤患者。 PI过去几年的研究 多年来，人们对视觉形象的作用有了新的理解， 学习、记忆和其他认知过程（见 Marschark & Hunt，in press; Marschark，Richman，Yuille，& Hunt，1987; Marschark &苏里安，出版中）。 这一理论框架导致 关于经常观察到的功能位点的具体预测 非文字记忆和空间处理的缺陷， 闭合性头部脑损伤（Marschark，1988）。试图将它们联系在一起 关于表象的研究和闭头脑的长期影响 进行了一项试点研究，以确定残留的程度， 大学新生的想象和语言功能障碍 他们在之前的某个时候遭受了头部闭合性脑损伤， 大学入学 结果表明，这些学生之间存在明显差异 和对照组，SAT分数和性别匹配，在图像测试， 而不是口头测试。 这项研究将把这项研究扩展到 更广泛的诊断测试，以及更广泛的， 控制抽样（从大约6400名大学新生中抽取 4年）。 一个广泛的测试电池将利用口头和 非语言能力“在线”以及语言和非语言的记忆 信息. 结果将结合信息进行分析 关于头部受伤和学习成绩 三个相关 研究将检查认知功能的具体方面， 传统的实验范式。 调查结果将澄清和扩展我们的 关于闭合性颅脑损伤长期影响的知识; 康复的替代战略， 损伤;观察到的记忆缺陷，视觉， 闭头个体空间功能和表象能力 脑损伤;以及视觉图像在人类记忆中的功能作用 和认知。

The proposed project will bridge two areas of research, one concerning the recovery from and long-term effects of closed-head brain injury, and the other concerning the role of visual imagery in memory and cognition by normal and brain-injured patients. Research by the PI over the past few years has lead to a revised understanding of the role of visual imagery in learning, memory, and other cognitive processes in normal individuals (see Marschark & Hunt, in press; Marschark, Richman, Yuille, & Hunt, 1987; Marschark & Surian, in press). This theoretical framework has lead to specific predictions about the functional locus of the frequently observed deficits in nonverbal memory and spatial processing by individuals with close-head brain injuries (Marschark, 1988). In an attempt to tie together research on imagery and the long-term implications of closed-head brain injuries, a pilot study was conducted to determine the extent of residual impairments in the imaginal and verbal functioning of university freshman who had suffered close-head brain injuries at some point previous to college entry. Results indicated clear differences between those students and a control group, matched for SAT scores and sex, on imagery tests but not on verbal tests. The proposed research will extend this research over a broader range of diagnostic tests and over a much larger, well- controlled sampled (from a pool of approximately 6400 college freshman over a 4-year period). An extensive test battery will tap verbal and nonverbal abilities "on-line" as well as memory for verbal and nonverbal information. Results will be analyzed in conjunction with information concerning the head injuries and academic performance. Three related studies will examine specific aspects of cognitive functioning in traditional experimental paradigms. Findings will clarify and extend our knowledge concerning the long-term effects of closed-head brain injuries; alternative strategies for the rehabilitation of individuals with such injuries; the relationship between observed deficits in memory, visuo- spatial functioning and imagery ability in individuals with closed-head brain injuries; and the functional role of visual imagery in human memory and cognition.