| Impaired memory is one of the most predominant complaints reported by traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors. To date, research has addressed focal and global neuropathologic effects of TBI that correlate with poor memory function, but not their impact on the recovery of memory impairment. This study aimed to investigate focal (hippocampal atrophy) and global (measured by ventricle-to-brain ratio or VBR) neuropathologic effects of brain injury on recovery of memory function. Learning and memory performance of 18 TBI patients were assessed at three time points: 1.5 (tl), 5 (t2) and 12 (t3) months post-injury. TI-weighted MR images were used to obtain hippocampal volumes and VBR. Memory performance at all three time points was significantly correlated with the left hippocampal volume. Recovery of memory function was significantly correlated with VBR (ti to t2) and hippocampal volume (tl to t3). Both focal and global effects of brain injury appear to influence memory recovery. |
