Volume 10 Issue 3
Effectiveness of a Computer-Based Training Program of Attention and Memory in Patients with Acquired Brain Damage
Elizabeth Fernandez, Jorge A. Bergado Rosado, Daymi Rodriguez Perez, Sonia Salazar Santana, Maydane Torres Aguilar and Maria Luisa Bringas
1Neuropsychology Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration CIREN, 11300 Havana, Cuba
2Laboratory of Electrophysiology, International Center for Neurological Restoration CIREN, 11300 Havana, Cuba
3Department of Psychology, Medical and Surgical Research Center CIMEQ, 11300 Havana, Cuba
4The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Many training programs have been designed using modern software to restore the impaired cognitive functions in patients with acquired brain damage (ABD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-based training program of attention and memory in patients with ABD, using a two-armed parallel group design, where the experimental group (n = 50) received cognitive stimulation using RehaCom software, and the control group (n = 30) received the standard cognitive stimulation (non-computerized) for eight weeks. In order to assess the possible cognitive changes after the treatment, a post-pre experimental design was employed using the following neuropsychological tests: Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and Trail Making test A and B. The effectiveness of the training procedure was statistically significant (p < 0.05) when it established the comparison between the performance in these scales, before and after the training period, in each patient and between the two groups. The training group had statistically significant (p < 0.001) changes in focused attention (Trail A), two subtests (digit span and logical memory), and the overall score of WMS. Finally, we discuss the advantages of computerized training rehabilitation and further directions of this line of work.
Keywords:cognitive rehabilitation; computer assisted therapy; acquired brain damage; attention; memory; RehaCom