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.