Differential learning and memory performance in OEF/OIF veterans for verbal and visual material.
OBJECTIVE
Memory complaints are particularly salient among veterans who experience combat-related mild traumatic brain injuries and/or trauma exposure, and represent a primary barrier to successful societal reintegration and everyday functioning. Anecdotally within clinical practice, verbal learning and memory performance frequently appears differentially reduced versus visual learning and memory scores. We sought to empirically investigate the robustness of a verbal versus visual learning and memory discrepancy and to explore potential mechanisms for a verbal/visual performance split.


METHODS
Participants consisted of 103 veterans with reported history of mild traumatic brain injuries returning home from U.S. military Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation.


RESULTS
Findings indicate that visual learning and memory abilities were largely intact while verbal learning and memory performance was significantly reduced in comparison, residing at approximately 1.1 SD below the mean for verbal learning and approximately 1.4 SD below the mean for verbal memory. This difference was not observed in verbal versus visual fluency performance, nor was it associated with estimated premorbid verbal abilities or traumatic brain injury history. In our sample, symptoms of depression, but not posttraumatic stress disorder, were significantly associated with reduced composite verbal learning and memory performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Verbal learning and memory performance may benefit from targeted treatment of depressive symptomatology. Also, because visual learning and memory functions may remain intact, these might be emphasized when applying neurocognitive rehabilitation interventions to compensate for observed verbal learning and memory difficulties.
Neuropsychology Service, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System.
Christopher N
CN
Sozda
Neuropsychology Service, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System.
James J
JJ
Muir
Neuropsychology Service, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System.
Utaka S
US
Springer
Neuropsychology Service, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System.
Diana
D
Partovi
Neuropsychology Service, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System.
Michael A
MA
Cole
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult