title: Speed of processing within semantic memory following severe closed head injury.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of severe closed head injury (CHI) on the speed of information processing within semantic categories. The question of whether subjects were able to benefit from priming was also investigated. Survivors of severe CHI who were less than 1 year postinjury and survivors who were greater than 1 year postinjury were compared with neurologically normal matched controls utilizing a category judgement task. The results demonstrated slower processing within semantic memory for both groups of CHI patients compared to normal controls. Furthermore, individuals with CHI were able to benefit from priming to the same relative degree as control subjects. Overall, the results suggested semantic organization remains intact after severe CHI, but accessing semantic information is slowed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown 26506.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Haut
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Petros
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Haut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics; D013997:Time Factors