Cognitive functions underlying prospective memory deficits: A study on traumatic brain injury

This study investigates prospective memory (PM) deficits as well as the interplay between performance in executive functions (EFs), speed of processing, episodic memory and PM in traumatic brain injury (TBI), differentiating between time based and event based tasks. The Memory for Intentions Screening Test was administrated to a sample of 19 participants with TBI and 50 healthy controls. Tasks probing different EFs (i.e., shifting, updating/working memory, inhibition, and access to long term memory), speed of processing, and episodic memory were also administrated to the TBI group. PM deficits were found in participants with TBI compared to controls. In the role of EFs in PM, only tasks probing updating/working memory and access to the long-term memory showed to play a specific role in PM performance in TBI. However, while updating/working memory was related to both time and event based PM, access to the long term memory was associated to performance on time based PM task only. Speed of processing and retrospective memory abilities do not seem to play a specific role in PM deficit in TBI. Our results provide a better understanding of the PM deficit in TBI, which may contribute to improve existing rehabilitation programs for individuals with TBI.