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Traumatic Brain Injury, Aging and Reaction Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

D.T. Stuss ,
L.L. Stethem ,
T.W. Picton ,
E.E. Leech  and
G. Pelchat
D.T. Stuss*
Affiliation:
Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, University of Ottawa, Human Neurosciences Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
L.L. Stethem
Affiliation:
Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, University of Ottawa, Human Neurosciences Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
T.W. Picton
Affiliation:
Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, University of Ottawa, Human Neurosciences Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
E.E. Leech
Affiliation:
Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, University of Ottawa, Human Neurosciences Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
G. Pelchat
Affiliation:
Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, Schools of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology, University of Ottawa, Human Neurosciences Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa
*
Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Centre, 3560 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1
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Abstract:

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The effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aging were compared on tests of simple and complex reaction time (RT). Simple RT was not significantly affected by aging or TBI. TBI patients, however, tended to be slower on Simple RT tasks, and had a larger standard deviation. Individuals over age 60 and patients of any age with TBI demonstrated slower RT with choice RT tests. In addition, both groups (those over 60 and TBI patients) were less able than other groups to inhibit the processing of redundant information. For the TBI patients, this occurred primarily on reassessment. These results suggest that the deficit in both aging and TBI is not only a generalized neuronal slowing but a more specific impairment in attentional control processes, exhibited as a deficit in focused attention.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , May 1989 , pp. 161 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1989

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