Impaired verbal and figural fluency after head injury

Previous research has found that verbal fluency is reduced in head-injured patients and in patients with focal damage to the frontal lobes. The present study compares a task of verbal associative fluency with a new measure of nonverbal, or figural, fluency that focuses on speed of producing unique designs and accounting for perseverative tendencies. Using results from 35 head-injured patients and 50 normals, we found that both verbal and figural fluency are compromised following brain trauma. Consistent with previous research, patients with severe head injuries were more impaired than patients with moderate head injuries. The discussion focuses on those cognitive factors that might influence verbal or figural fluency.