Single-case study in rehabilitation with SaM method (Sense and Mind): a proposal and analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present case report is to describe a new rehabilitation approach for traumatic brain injury (TBI). BACKGROUND: TBI is a heterogeneous disorder that could be associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments. The clinical complexity of TBI patients requires a specialized and integrated approach that involves several rehabilitation experts (Mazzucchi in La riabilitazione neuropsicologica, Elsevier-Masson, Milan, 2012). SaM method (SaMM) (Risoli in La riabilitazione spaziale, Carocci Faber, Rome, 2013) is a new rehabilitation approach based on "embodied cognition" theory (Gallese and Lakoff in Cogn Neuropsychol 22(3):455-479, 2005) and has the aim to improve spatial abilities through structured body exercises. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient was a 35-year-old male who had TBI 9 months before. The patient was evaluated, before and after the treatment, with neuropsychological tests (Rey Test copy and reproduction, Elithorn Test, Trail Making Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), Lawton Index for IADL, level of cognitive functioning, and a qualitative process-oriented assessment with SaMM exercises. The patient was treated with SaMM for 4 months, three times a week. RESULTS: Several of the executed assessments showed an improvement after SaMM treatment. The patient also reported amelioration in some daily activities such as swimming and using phone and money. DISCUSSION: Further investigations are necessary, but the SaMM appeared to be a useful complementary restitutive approach for TBI patients.

Clinical investigation of cognitive styles in patients with acquired brain damage.

This study aims to investigate relationships between the preference in use of visual-verbal cognitive representation and strategies and lesion site in patients with acquired brain injury. The Visualiser-Verbaliser Questionnaire (VVQ) and the Questionnaire on Visual and Verbal Strategies (QSVV) were administered to 48 patients by an examiner in an ambulatory setting. Data showed that the preference for verbalisation decreased in patients with a parietal focal lesion, who tended to use a mixed cognitive style. Patients with subcortical bilateral lesions verbalised more than patients with no lesion or right focal lesions. In general, damage in a specific area associated to a type of cognitive strategy may compromise its use, but does not lead to its extinction. From a neurorehabilitation perspective, findings suggest that patients can learn to use cognitive strategies to compensate for their deficits.

Visual and verbal styles in patients with cognitive deficits: a preliminary study.

This study aims to assess the relationships between the verbalizer-visualizer styles and visuospatial skills in 53 patients with acquired brain injury and consequent cognitive deficits. Results showed a high tendency to mentally visualize in patients with visuospatial neglect and a low tendency toward visualization in patients with attention and memory deficits. The verbalizer-visualizer style did not correlate to performance in perception and imagery visuospatial tasks. This study suggests that patients with neglect can benefit from an imagery training that some might believe to mismatch with the features of the patients' cognitive functioning.