Dynamics of changes of executive functions in patients with traumatic brain injuries

The purpose of the study was to observe the dynamics of changes of executive functions in patients with light and mild traumatic frontal lobes injuries. Patients, with changes indicated in CT, and the control group accordingly, were presented with a set of neuropsychological methods (i.e. Tower of London (TOL), Trail Making Test (TMT) , Stroop Test etc.), three times during three weeks following the brain trauma and after half a year after the brain trauma. Dynamics of change may differ according to individual factors (Leon-Carrion et al.), however in results obtained an interesting pattern of improvement may be observed. Namely, during the short period after the brain trauma, patients’ level of functioning reaches its peak in the fi rst and third week of recovery, whereas decreases rapidly during the second week (e.g. see TOL, F1, 14=2.5, P<0.05). Above results may be helpful in the future evaluation of methods in neuropsychological rehabilitation.