Computerized Training of Working Memoryfor Patients with Acquired Brain Injury

Background: Patients with acquired brain injury often experience impaired working memory (WM), a condition that can make everyday life activities and work difficult. Objectives: This study investigates the effects of computerized WM training on WM skills, cognitive tests, activity performance and estimated health and whether the effects of computerized WM training can be attributed to sex or time since injury. Methods: Forty-eight patients with acquired brain injury underwent computerized WM training. Patients were tested by a neuropsychologist and interviewed by an occupational therapist just prior and 20 weeks after completion of training. Results: Patients who participated in computerized WM training significantly improved their WM skills shown in WM index, their neuropsychological test scores, and their self-estimated health scores. They also significantly improved their performance of individually defined WM-related everyday activities and their satisfaction with the performance of these activities. There was a significant difference in terms of WM index, WM-related daily activity performance, and satisfaction with respect to time since injury. Conclusion: Computerized WM training can improve cognitive and everyday performance for patients with acquired brain injury. Patients can improve their cognitive functions a long time after suffering a brain injury or disease. This effect is greater if WM training is used early in the rehabilitation.