Frontal Lobe Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury

The frontal lobes are responsible for many higher cognitive abilities, including executive, inhibitory, and motivational functions. The frontal lobes are particularly prone to damage in closed head injury because of direct contusion, as well as disruption of connections on which frontal systems depend for functioning. Three primary behavioral syndromes are described, associated with damage to dorsolateral, orbital, and mesial frontal subsystems. Two approaches to rehabilitation of frontal dysfunction are reviewed.