Abstract

Accurate outcome prediction has proven to be somewhat elusive for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The difficulty is due to the sometimes inaccurate methods of prediction currently available. Despite the advances seen in radiological technology, the traditional methods of x-rays, CT scans and MRIs are not always accurately able to predict patient functional outcome. These radiological methods are adequate in determining gross structural anatomical disturbances, however, they unable to detect more diffuse cellular damage believed to be responsible for the functional impairments evidenced in patients sustaining TBI. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is an imaging technique which measures brain metabolites and has been reported to yield abnormal levels in patients with TBI. This abnormal metabolic level is believed to represent and measure the more insidious and elusive diffuse damage. The purpose of this study is to determine if MRS is a predictive measure of memory ability for patient’s who have sustained TBI. As hypothesized, the present study found that with the single voxel MRS parietal white matter NAA levels and its associated ratios were predictive of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition (WMS-III) memory indices with the exception of the Working Memory Index. Therefore, neurometabolites measured by MRS appear to be a good predictor of memory.

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Todd Burley

Second Advisor

Mary-Catherin Freier

Third Advisor

Barbara Holshouser

Fourth Advisor

Matt Riggs

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

2008

Date (Title Page)

6-2008

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Memory -- physiology; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Brain Injuries -- metabolism; Predictive Value of Tests; Brain Injuries -- adult; Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological

Type

Thesis

Page Count

xi; 97

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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