Cognitive rehabilitation for brain damaged patients

Abstract

Cognitive rehabilitation is considered to contribute in improving neuropsychological deficits resulting from brain injuries. In this report, we present a case with a circumscribed lesion to the right dorsolateral prefrontal lobes and show a method of cognitive rehabilitation for the patient's dysexecutive functions disorder. Investigation of prefrontal functions in this case demonstrated impaired executive function combined with a deficit of visuospatial attention to the left extrapersonal space, while intellectual function and novel learning remained intact. Cognitive direct training using the "Tinker toy test" and "Tower of Hanoi" for six weeks was effective in improving the dysexecutive syndrome in this patient. The present case clearly demonstrates that this behavioral improvement might be accounted for by the reorganization of executive function in the posterior brains or by compensation in the left prefrontal lobes.