Memory and executive functions correlates of self-awareness in traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of executive functions (EF) components and episodic and working memory variables, as well as clinical and demographic factors, to awareness of cognitive ability in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Sixty-five TBI patients (mild: n = 26; moderate/severe: n = 39) took part in the study. Independent stepwise regression models were calculated for EF and memory predictors, with awareness being measured by patient/informant discrepancy in the Patient Competency Rating Scale.

Results: Models with EF variables indicated that semantic verbal fluency and age are the best predictors of awareness, whereas models including mnemonic functions suggested verbal delayed episodic recall and TBI severity as predictors.

Conclusions: These results are discussed in relation to clinical implications, such as the need to focus efforts of rehabilitation in the cognitive abilities related to awareness, and theoretical models.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic brain injury
• memory
• metacognition
• awareness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Nicolle Zimmermann http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4771-4070

Daniel C. Mograbi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4271-2984

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brazil) and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).