Recovery of content and temporal order memory for performed activities following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the complex nature of everyday activity memory following traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study examined recovery of content and temporal order memory for performed activities during the first year in individuals who suffered moderate to severe TBI. TBI and control participants completed eight different cognitive activities at baseline (i.e., acutely following injury for TBI) and then again approximately one year later (follow-up). Participants' free recall of the activities provided a measure of content memory. Temporal order memory was assessed with a reconstruction task. Self-report and informant report of everyday memory problems at follow-up were used to examine the relationship between activity memory performances and everyday memory. TBI participants showed significant recovery in both content and temporal order memory for activities during the first year. Despite showing significant recovery, the TBI group's activity memory performances remained poorer than that of controls at follow-up. Greater self- and informant report of everyday memory difficulties was associated with poorer temporal order memory but not content memory for activities. These findings demonstrate recovery in multiple memory processes that support activity memory following moderate to severe TBI. The findings also suggest a stronger link between everyday memory abilities and temporal order memory for activities than activity memory content in a TBI population.