The relationship between facial affect recognition and cognitive functioning after traumatic brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: There is considerable evidence suggesting facial affect recognition and cognitive functions are impaired in many people with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, little is known about the relationship between these two domains in the TBI population.

RESEARCH DESIGN: This study investigated the relationship between facial affect recognition and cognitive functioning in 75 adults with moderate-to-severe TBI.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were administered three facial affect recognition tests and a computerized cognitive test battery that assessed seven cognitive domains.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Deficits in facial affect recognition were significantly correlated with impairments in non-verbal memory, working memory, speed of processing, verbal memory and verbal delayed memory. No significant relationship was found between executive dysfunction and facial affect recognition impairments. Non-verbal memory, working memory and speed of processing significantly predicted overall facial affect recognition performance.

CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that impairment in several cognitive processes may contribute to facial affect recognition deficits in TBI, in particular non-verbal memory, working memory and speed of processing. Furthermore, executive functioning may not be a critical factor in facial affect recognition, but would most likely be important in deciding what to do once facial affect is perceived.