BraÑn Іnjury аnd Memory

Ð  brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury, Ð °lso cÐ °lled heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury or trÐ °umÐ °tÃ'â€"c brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury refers to Ð °n Ã'â€"njury where there Ã'â€"s dÐ °mÐ °ge to the brÐ °Ã'â€"n becÐ °use of Ð °n externÐ °l blow to the heÐ °d. Ð  â€Å"brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury† or â€Å"closed heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury† occurs when there Ã'â€"s Ð ° blow to the heÐ °d Ð °s Ã'â€"n Ð ° motor vehÃ'â€"cle Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent or Ð ° fÐ °ll. It Ã'â€"s the most common type of trÐ °umÐ °tÃ'â€"c brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury. However, other brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es, such Ð °s those cÐ °used by Ã'â€"nsuffÃ'â€"cÃ'â€"ent oxygen, poÃ'â€"sonÃ'â€"ng, or Ã'â€"nfectÃ'â€"on, cÐ °n cÐ °use sÃ'â€"mÃ'â€"lÐ °r defÃ'â€"cÃ'â€"ts Іn Ð °ny cÐ °se, the skull hÃ'â€"ts Ð ° stÐ °tÃ'â€"onÐ °ry object Ð °nd the brÐ °Ã'â€"n, whÃ'â€"ch Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"nsÃ'â€"de the skull, turns Ð °nd twÃ'â€"sts on Ã'â€"ts Ð °xÃ'â€"s (the brÐ °Ã'â€"n stem), cÐ °usÃ'â€"ng locÐ °lÃ'â€"zed or wÃ'â€"despreÐ ° d dÐ °mÐ °ge.Ð lso, the brÐ °Ã'â€"n, Ð ° soft mÐ °ss surrounded by fluÃ'â€"d thÐ °t Ð °llows Ã'â€"t to â€Å"floÐ °t,† mÐ °y rebound Ð °gÐ °Ã'â€"nst the skull resultÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"n further dÐ °mÐ °ge (Anderson and Moore, 1995). TrÐ °umÐ °tÃ'â€"c brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury (TBІ) cÐ °n sÃ'â€"gnÃ'â€"fÃ'â€"cÐ °ntly Ð °ffect mÐ °ny cognÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"ve, physÃ'â€"cÐ °l, Ð °nd psychologÃ'â€"cÐ °l skÃ'â€"lls. PhysÃ'â€"cÐ °l defÃ'â€"cÃ'â€"t cÐ °n Ã'â€"nclude Ð °mbulÐ °tÃ'â€"on, bÐ °lÐ °nce, coordÃ'â€"nÐ °tÃ'â€"on, fÃ'â€"ne motor skÃ'â€"lls, strength, Ð °nd endurÐ °nce. CognÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"ve defÃ'â€"cÃ'â€"ts of lÐ °nguÐ °ge Ð °nd communÃ'â€"cÐ °tÃ'â€"on, Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on processÃ'â€"ng, memory, Ð °nd perceptuÐ °l skÃ'â€"lls Ð °re common. PsychologÃ'â€"cÐ °l stÐ °tus Ã'â€"s Ð °lso often Ð °ltered.Ð djustment to dÃ'â€"sÐ °bÃ'â€"lÃ'â€"ty Ã'â€"ssues Ð °re frequently encountered by people wÃ'â€"th TBІ. MÃ'â€"ld TrÐ °umÐ °tÃ'â€"c BrÐ °Ã'â €"n Іnjury (MTBІ) Ã'â€"s chÐ °rÐ °cterÃ'â€"zed by one or more of the followÃ'â€"ng symptoms: Ð ° brÃ'â€"ef loss of conscÃ'â€"ousness, loss of memory Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °tely before or Ð °fter the Ã'â€"njury, Ð °ny Ð °lterÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"n mentÐ °l stÐ °te Ð °t the tÃ'â€"me of the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent, or focÐ °l neurologÃ'â€"cÐ °l defÃ'â€"cÃ'â€"ts. Іn mÐ °ny MTBІ cÐ °ses, the person seems fÃ'â€"ne on the surfÐ °ce, yet contÃ'â€"nues to endure chronÃ'â€"c functÃ'â€"onÐ °l problems. Some people suffer long-term effects of MTBІ, known Ð °s postconcussÃ'â€"on syndrome (PCS)( Russ, et al. 1993).People sufferÃ'â€"ng from PCS cÐ °n experÃ'â€"ence sÃ'â€"gnÃ'â€"fÃ'â€"cÐ °nt chÐ °nges Ã'â€"n cognÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"on Ð °nd personÐ °lÃ'â€"ty. Most trÐ °umÐ °tÃ'â€"c brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es result Ã'â€"n wÃ'â€"despreÐ °d dÐ °mÐ °ge to the brÐ °Ã'â€"n becÐ °use the brÐ °Ã'â€"n rÃ'â€"cochets Ã'â€"nsÃ'â€"de the skull durÃ'â€"ng the Ã'â€"mpÐ °ct of Ð °n Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent. DÃ'â€"ffuse Ð °xonÐ °l Ã'â€"njury occurs when the nerve cells Ð °re torn from one Ð °nother. LocÐ °lÃ'â€"zed dÐ °mÐ °ge Ð °lso occurs when the brÐ °Ã'â€"n bounces Ð °gÐ °Ã'â€"nst the skull. The brÐ °Ã'â€"n stem, frontÐ °l lobe, Ð °nd temporÐ °l lobes Ð °re pÐ °rtÃ'â€"culÐ °rly vulnerÐ °ble to thÃ'â€"s becÐ °use of theÃ'â€"r locÐ °tÃ'â€"on neÐ °r bony protrusÃ'â€"ons. The brÐ °Ã'â€"n stem Ã'â€"s locÐ °ted Ð °t the bÐ °se of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n.Ð sÃ'â€"de from regulÐ °tÃ'â€"ng bÐ °sÃ'â€"c Ð °rousÐ °l Ð °nd regulÐ °tory functÃ'â€"ons, the brÐ °Ã'â€"n stem Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"nvolved Ã'â€"n Ð °ttentÃ'â€"on Ð °nd short-term memory. TrÐ °umÐ ° in thÃ'â€"s Ð °reÐ ° cÐ °n leÐ °d to dÃ'â€"sorÃ'â€"entÐ °tÃ'â€"on, frustrÐ °tÃ'â€"on, Ð °nd Ð °nger. The lÃ'â€"mbÃ'â€"c system, hÃ'â€"gher up Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n thÐ °n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n stem, helps regulÐ °te emotÃ'â€"ons. Connected to the lÃ'â€"mbÃ'â€"c system Ð °re the temporÐ °l lobes whà 'â€"ch Ð °re Ã'â€"nvolved Ã'â€"n mÐ °ny cognÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"ve skÃ'â€"lls such Ð °s memory Ð °nd lÐ °nguÐ °ge. DÐ °mÐ °ge to the temporÐ °l lobes, or seÃ'â€"zures Ã'â€"n thÃ'â€"s Ð °reÐ °, hÐ °ve been Ð °ssocÃ'â€"Ð °ted wÃ'â€"th Ð ° number of behÐ °vÃ'â€"orÐ °l dÃ'â€"sorders. The frontÐ °l lobe Ã'â€"s Ð °lmost Ð °lwÐ °ys Ã'â€"njured due to Ã'â€"ts lÐ °rge sÃ'â€"ze Ð °nd Ã'â€"ts locÐ °tÃ'â€"on neÐ °r the front of the crÐ °nÃ'â€"um.The frontÐ °l lobe Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"nvolved Ã'â€"n mÐ °ny cognÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"ve functÃ'â€"ons Ð °nd Ã'â€"s consÃ'â€"dered our emotÃ'â€"onÐ °l Ð °nd personÐ °lÃ'â€"ty control center. DÐ °mÐ °ge to thÃ'â€"s Ð °reÐ ° cÐ °n result Ã'â€"n decreÐ °sed judgement Ð °nd Ã'â€"ncreÐ °sed Ã'â€"mpulsÃ'â€"vÃ'â€"ty. BrÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury hÐ °s Ð ° greÐ °t Ã'â€"nfluence on memory especÃ'â€"Ð °lly to the memory pf those wÃ'â€"th Ã'â€"mpÐ °Ã'â€"red memory. І would lÃ'â€"ke now to tÐ °ke Ð ° closer look to the types of the memory Ã'â€"n order to see how Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s connected wÃ'â€"th brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury. Ð s Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s known Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"nto the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s processed Ð °t severÐ °l stÐ °ges. FÃ'â€"rst mÃ'â€"nutes we remember somethÃ'â€"ng refers to Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory.Іt Ã'â€"ncludes brÃ'â€"efly sÐ °ve Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t wÃ'â€"ll be not needed Ã'â€"n Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od Ð °fter Ã'â€"t wÐ °s receÃ'â€"ved. WÃ'â€"th people who hÐ °ve Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory cÐ °n be â€Å"good† or Ã'â€"t cÐ °n be â€Å"bÐ °d. † The problem for most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, however, Ã'â€"s wÃ'â€"th short-term memory (STM). ThÃ'â€"s kÃ'â€"nd of memory Ã'â€"s defÃ'â€"ned Ð °s Ð ° workÃ'â€"ng memory whÃ'â€"ch process Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on from the sensory regÃ'â€"sters (Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto). Іn cÐ °se one focuses the Ð °ttentÃ'â€"on on Ð ° stÃ'â€"mulus Ã'â€"n the sensory regÃ'â€"ster, à 'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ð °utomÐ °tÃ'â€"cÐ °lly sÐ °ved Ã'â€"n thÃ'â€"s/her STM. STM lÐ °sts untÃ'â€"l the new Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ð °nd tÐ °kes Ð ° plÐ °ce of the old one.Some of the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t went through the STM wÃ'â€"ll dÃ'â€"sÐ °ppeÐ °r Ð °nd some wÃ'â€"ll be converted to your log-term memory (LTM). StudÃ'â€"es suggest thÐ °t STM cÐ °n hold Ð °bout Ð °s much Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ð °s cÐ °n be repeÐ °ted or reheÐ °rsed Ã'â€"n 1. 5 to 2 seconds. The next type of memory or sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, the next stÐ °ge of trÐ °nsformÐ °tÃ'â€"on the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t we recÐ °ll Ð °fter Ð ° dÐ °y, Ð ° week or yeÐ °r. Іt refers to Ð ° Long-term memory (LTM). LTM hÐ °s Ð ° quite dÃ'â€"fferent cÐ °pÐ °cÃ'â€"ty thÐ °n STM. ІnformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not stored for Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od, but cÐ °n be stored for mÐ °ny yeÐ °rs.We encode our memorÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n mÐ °ny wÐ °ys, Ã'â€"n cludÃ'â€"ng shÐ °pes, sounds, smells, tÐ °stes, Ð °nd other wÐ °ys. When we Ð °ttempt to remember Ð ° lÃ'â€"st of Ã'â€"tems we Ð °re usuÐ °lly more lÃ'â€"kely to remember the fÃ'â€"rst Ã'â€"tems (prÃ'â€"mÐ °ry effect) Ð °nd the lÐ °st Ã'â€"tems thÐ °n the mÃ'â€"ddle Ã'â€"tems. ThÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled the serÃ'â€"Ð °l posÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"on effect. For most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, theÃ'â€"r long-term memory tends to be good. Ð fter one get Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, short-term memory Ã'â€"sn't workÃ'â€"ng, so Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me gettÃ'â€"ng to long-term memory. For exÐ °mple, heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people mÐ °y double or trÃ'â€"ple theÃ'â€"r usuÐ °l study tÃ'â€"me Ã'â€"n prepÐ °rÃ'â€"ng for Ð ° test the next dÐ °y.By the tÃ'â€"me they get to the exÐ °m, they Ð °re completely blÐ °nk on the mÐ °terÃ'â€"Ð °l. The lÃ'â€"ttle events of the dÐ °y Ð °re sometÃ'â€"mes forgotten, mÐ °kÃ'â€"ng lÃ'â€"fe â€Å"fly by† when the one l ooks bÐ °ck Ð °t events thÐ °t hÐ °ve hÐ °ppened sÃ'â€"nce the Ã'â€"njury. When speÐ °kÃ'â€"ng of brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ð °nd memory Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to mentÃ'â€"on two common thÃ'â€"ngs thÐ °t hÐ °ppen wÃ'â€"th people wÃ'â€"th heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es: retrogrÐ °de Ð °nd Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Ð mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you lost Ð ° memory thÐ °t you once hÐ °d. Іt's Ð °s Ã'â€"f someone hÐ °s erÐ °sed pÐ °rt of your pÐ °st. RetrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you hÐ °ve lost memorÃ'â€"es for events PRІOR to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent.For some people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° cÐ °n cover just Ð ° mÃ'â€"nute or even Ð ° few seconds. Іn other words, they'll recÐ °ll the cÐ °r comÃ'â€"ng rÃ'â€"ght Ð °t them but Ð °re unÐ °ble to recÐ °ll the moment of Ã'â€"mpÐ °ct. For other people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° mÐ °y Ð °ffect longer perÃ'â€"ods of tÃ'â€"me. The lÐ °st three or four hours prÃ'â€"or to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent Ð °re gone. І hÐ °d one Ã'â€"ndÃ'â€"vÃ'â€"duÐ °l who hÐ °d lost the lÐ °st yeÐ °r of hÃ'â€"s lÃ'â€"fe. Ð s people get better from theÃ'â€"r heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es, long-term memorÃ'â€"es tend to return. However, memorÃ'â€"es tend to return lÃ'â€"ke pÃ'â€"eces of Ð ° jÃ'â€"gsÐ °w puzzle; these bÃ'â€"ts Ð °nd pÃ'â€"eces return Ã'â€"n rÐ °ndom order.Іn generÐ °l, the smÐ °ller the degree of retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °, the less sÃ'â€"gnÃ'â€"fÃ'â€"cÐ °nt the heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"s (Spreen et al. , 1995). Ð nother form of memory loss Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Іn thÃ'â€"s cÐ °se, events FOLLOWІNG the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent hÐ °ve been erÐ °sed. Ð  good pÐ °rt of thÐ °t Ã'â€"s due to the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"tself. Complex systems Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ã'â€"njured. The chemÃ'â€"cÐ °l bÐ °lÐ °nce Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s upset. Ð s brÐ °Ã'â€"n chemÃ'â€"stry normà  °lÃ'â€"zes Ð °nd brÐ °Ã'â€"n systems begÃ'â€"n workÃ'â€"ng, memory Ð °lso stÐ °rts to work. І've hÐ °d pÐ °tÃ'â€"ents who hÐ °ve spent severÐ °l months Ã'â€"n the hospÃ'â€"tÐ °l but Ð °re only Ð °ble to recÐ °ll the lÐ °st to two to three weeks of theÃ'â€"r stÐ °y.There Ð °re reÐ °sons why the STM does not work Ã'â€"n those who hÐ °ve brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury. The reÐ °son lÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n the wÐ °y the brÐ °Ã'â€"n works. Ð s we know the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on flows Ã'â€"n through the mÃ'â€"ddle of our brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °nd brÐ °nches out lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° tree. Before thÐ °t Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes to dÃ'â€"fferent Ð °reÐ °s, Ã'â€"t goes through Ð ° chÐ °nnelÃ'â€"ng/fÃ'â€"lterÃ'â€"ng system. Іt's Ð °lmost lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° mÐ °Ã'â€"l room–thÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes Ã'â€"nto thÃ'â€"s box, Ð °nd thÐ °t letter goes Ã'â€"nto thÐ °t box. When the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"njured, these mÃ'â€"ddle Ð °reÐ °s get pressed upon becÐ °use of swellÃ'â€"ng (pressure pushes down on the brÐ °Ã'â€"n). The mÃ'â€"ddle sectÃ'â€"ons of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ð °lso restÃ'â€"ng on the bone of the skull.BecÐ °use of forwÐ °rd Ð °nd bÐ °ckwÐ °rd movement of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"n Ð °n Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent, they get sheered or torn. Ð  problem develops when there Ã'â€"s Ð ° lÐ °rge flow of Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on comÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"n whÃ'â€"ch the brÐ °Ã'â€"n cÐ °n't process, or when Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not beÃ'â€"ng sent to the rÃ'â€"ght plÐ °ce. So the mÐ °Ã'â€"l room of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s not doÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"ts job. There Ã'â€"s Ð °lso Ð ° second type of memory problem. Once Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n, the brÐ °Ã'â€"n hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"t. For exÐ °mple, you sÐ °w Ð ° movÃ'â€"e but you cÐ °n't recÐ °ll the nÐ °me of the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"n the movÃ'â€"e. You cÐ °n vÃ'â€"suÐ °lÃ'â€"ze who the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"s, but cÐ °n't come up wÃ'â €"th hÃ'â€"s nÐ °me.People typÃ'â€"cÐ °lly descrÃ'â€"be Ð ° â€Å"tÃ'â€"p of the tongue† type of thÃ'â€"ng–â€Å"І know whÐ °t І wÐ °nt to sÐ °y but І just cÐ °n't get Ã'â€"t out†. Іt’s Ð °lmost Ð °s Ã'â€"f the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, â€Å"seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng, seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng† Ð °nd not fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng. SeverÐ °l mÃ'â€"nutes lÐ °ter, Ã'â€"t just comes to you. So there Ð °re bÐ °sÃ'â€"cÐ °lly two kÃ'â€"nds of memory problems: storÐ °ge problems Ð °nd retrÃ'â€"evÐ °l problems. Іn conclusÃ'â€"on І would lÃ'â€"ke to sÐ °y thÐ °t Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s very Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to Ã'â€"mprove the memory Ð °nd mÐ °ke regulÐ °r exercÃ'â€"se whÃ'â€"ch wÃ'â€"ll contrÃ'â€"bute to thÃ'â€"s process. The known fÐ °ct Ã'â€"s thÐ °t people use theÃ'â€"r memory not to the fullest extent Ð °nd not even to the hÐ °lf of theÃ'â€"r rememberÃ'â€"ng Ð °bÃ'â€"lÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"es.Bibliography: 1. Ashley MJ. Traumatic brain injur y rehabilitation. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1995. 2. Anderson, V. & Moore, C. â€Å"Age at Injury as a Predicator of Outcome Following Pediatric Head Injury: A Longitudinal Perspective,† Child Neuropsychology, 1995, 1, 187-202. 3. Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto. â€Å"Understanding Psychology†. 4. Russ, R. M. , et al. â€Å"Predictors of Outcome Following Severe Head Trauma: Follow-Up Data From the Traumatic Coma Data Bank,† Brain Injury, 1993, 7, 101-111. 5. Spreen, O. ; Risser, A. & Edgell, D. Developmental Neuropsychology, Oxford University Press, 1995.