Ventricular enlargement, cortical atrophy and neuropsychological performance following head injury

Volumetric measures of the ventricular system and the degree of cortical atrophy were obtained from CT scan data in 48 severe post-head-injury patients. Neuropsychological tests consisting of the WAIS, WMS and the HRNTB were obtained. Correlational analyses revealed significant negative relationships between ventricular size and intellectual and memory functioning, but no consistent relationship with measures of motor, sensory or language functioning. Similar, but generally less significant, findings were obtained with the atrophy index measure. Results are discussed in relation to differential effects of trauma on cerebral morphology and neuropsychological outcome.