The Benefits of Cognitive Brain Training in Brain Injury Treatment

Cognitive brain training can improve many areas of brain function in people suffering from brain injury. Cognitive rehabilitation exercises can help improve memory, attention, concentration, and mental processing speed. They can also help reduce depressive symptoms and improve executive function and attention. These techniques may be beneficial for people suffering from head injuries of any kind.

Improves Neurocognitive Functioning

Psychological therapies for brain injury treatment include interventions to improve neurocognitive functioning. Such programs aim to enhance goal-directed control and reduce non-relevant cognitive processing. These treatments are becoming increasingly popular in treating TBI, including mild, moderate, and chronic TBI. Cognitive rehabilitation has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to treating cognitive deficits after brain injury. It can help those with various neuropsychological problems improve memory, attention, executive function, and social communication skills. 

Reduces Depressive Symptoms

Cognitive brain training has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with TBI. It improves cognitive functions and social engagement and may also contribute to improved emotion regulation. Researchers have found that reduced depressive symptoms correlate with increased cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for emotional regulation. They also found a reduction in abnormal neural connectivity, suggesting that cognitive brain training may positively affect depression symptoms. The study found that cognitive brain training reduced depressive symptoms compared to supportive psychotherapy and that cognitive training was independent of the intervention program used. 

Improves Executive Function

Improving executive function after a TBI is an important part of recovery. This cognitive function helps people control their behavior and adapt to challenging situations, such as a job that involves interacting with others. A person with poor executive function may have difficulty maintaining relationships, inhibiting aggressive behavior, and completing routine tasks. Executive function involves a series of interrelated processes in the brain that help people plan, initiate behavior, solve problems, monitor progress toward goals, and reason. People with TBI may experience deficits in these processes, which affect every aspect of their personal and professional life. This impairment is sometimes referred to as a dysexecutive syndrome.

Improves Attention

Cognitive brain training can help patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regain their attention. However, the impact of such interventions is largely dependent on the extent of spontaneous recovery after brain injury. In some studies, attention process training (APT) does not affect the outcome. But some studies show the intervention does increase attention. In these studies, patients were given computer-based games that taught them to control their attention. The tasks were designed to increase in difficulty according to the patient’s skill level, and the participants were provided with instant feedback on their scores. 

Improves Memory

Cognitive brain training can help you recover from a brain injury. It involves doing activities such as physical therapy and getting adequate sleep. This is because your brain requires adequate rest to process and retain new information. Cognitive rehab also includes stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing and focusing on the present moment. It can also involve engaging in games to improve brain function. Cognitive brain training can be effective in improving memory in people with mild TBI. It can help them remember details, steps, or items in a list. Healthcare providers can help patients learn to use internal strategies, such as mnemonic devices, to aid their memory.