title: Visuospatial memory improvement in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI): a 1-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is prevalent in traumatic brain injury (TBI), and is often associated with poor outcomes and cognitive impairment, including memory deficits. Few studies have explored visual memory after TBI and its relationship to executive functioning. Executive functioning is crucial for remembering an object's location, operating devices, driving, and route finding. We compared visual memory performance via the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test 6 and 12 months after DAI.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 40 patients (mean age 28.7 years; 87.5% male) with moderate-to-severe DAI following a road traffic accident completed the 1-year follow-up. There was a three-phase prospective assessment. In phase 1 (1-3 months after trauma), patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In phases 2 (6 months) and 3 (12 months), they completed the BDI, STAI, and a neuropsychological battery [ROCF copy and recall, digit span forward/backward, Grooved Pegboard test, intelligence quotient (IQ) by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an improvement in ROCF recall over time (p=0.013), but not ROCF copy (p=0.657).There was no change in executive function (Savage scores) copy (p=0.230) or recall (p=0.155). Age, years of education, severity of the trauma, and IQ did not influence ROCF recall improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are time-dependent improvements in visual memory in patients with DAI. Neuroplasticity in the 1st months after trauma provides an opportunity for visuospatial memory learning. The present findings may be useful to formulate management plans for long-term TBI rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Psychology,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zaninotto
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Psychology,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Jessica Elias
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Neurosurgery,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Davi Jorge Fontoura
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Solla
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Psychology,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Tateishi
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Neurosurgery,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Monteiro de Paula
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Guirado
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Radiology,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrício
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feltrin
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Psychology,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara Cristina Souza
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Lucia
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Neurosurgery,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel Jacobsen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Neurosurgery,Clinics Hospital,University of Sao Paulo Medical School,Sao Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellingson Silva
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognition; improvement; progmostic; traumatic brain injury; visuospatial memory