Computer-based cognitive retraining: a controlled study.

Microcomputers have gained popularity as treatment tools after severe head injury but there have been no controlled studies to show if the programmes used can modify behaviour or cognitive improvement. This paper describes a controlled study of such a training programme using three groups of subjects of ten each, one head-injured group using the computer, one head-injured group not using the computer, and a non-head-injured group. The study lasted 4 weeks. The only differences found were in the behavioural aspects of attention. Psychomotor and vigilance were not improved. The reasons for this are discussed.