The relation of cognitive control to social outcome after paediatric TBI: Implications for intervention

Abstract

Hypothesis: This study postulated cognitive control is related to social outcome in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and orthopaedic injury (OI).

Procedure and design: This study analysed 12-month, post-injury, cross-sectional data from 52 children (7–17 years) with moderate-to-severe TBI and 41 children with OI. Cognitive control was measured with the Sternberg Task (memory) and the Flanker Task (resistance to interference). Relations to social outcome (Vineland Adaptive Behavioural Scales—Socialization and Communications domains) were measured.

Results: Reaction time (RT) on the Sternberg task was related to social outcome, with stronger relations in children of lower SES. Flanker baseline and interference RTs were related to social outcome, with the relation for interference RT more robust in children with lower SES.

Conclusions: Cognitive control is related to social outcome. Further, it is suggested that cognitive training may have positive effects on social function through improved efficiency of social information processing.

• Paediatric TBI
• rehabilitation
• intervention
• cognition
• cognitive control
• social outcome
• social cognition