The contribution of retrospective memory, attention and executive functions to the prospective and retrospective components of prospective memory following TBI

Primary objective: Despite the prevalence of prospective memory (PM) problems, relatively little is known about the processes underlying impairment following TBI. This study sought to examine PM performance, using a multiple-task, multiple-response video-based paradigm in which initial encoding of the cue-action associations was ensured (Video-Assessment of Prospective Memory; VAPM).Research design: VAPM was designed to allow easy identification of reasons for failure (i.e. cue detection and/or specific action retrieval). Patients with moderate/severe TBI (n = 32) and matched controls (n = 16) also completed standardized neuropsychological assessment including evaluation of episodic retrospective memory (RM), attention, information processing, executive functions and mood.Main outcomes and results: As a group, those with TBI were impaired on PM tasks with 50% failing to complete at least 2/6 required tasks despite near perfect performance by controls. Individual profile analyses revealed different reasons...