Chaos on the Information Superhighway: Reduced Speed of Information Processing After Brain Injury

Reduced speed of information processing after brain injury. Photo of highway at night timelapse so car lights streaked
Reduced speed of information processing. Pixabay.com

 

Reduced speed of information processing:

I have a picture of an information superhighway with information flying along at great speed. Suddenly it is thrown into chaos because some stuff begins to slow down and not follow the rules.  These slower pieces get in the way of other information whizzing along and the information superhighway is disrupted.

 What does information processing look like?
How does it affect the function of the brain?

 

 What Is Information Processing?

Let’s start with a challenge: Can I write a very simple description of ‘Information processing’ that is able to be understood?

Here goes:

‘Information processing’ is part of what the brain needs to do so we can function efficiently:

The brain needs to quickly sort out, and prioritise all the millions and millions of inputs it receives, from all parts of the body, every second of every day.

It then has to decide on the spot what to action now, what to keep for later, and what to forget.

Lastly it organises millions and millions of outputs (actions or responses) engaging the right information and actions.

A big part of  this is sorting and getting all information through these steps to the right place at the right time. This is “information processing”.

What do you think? Please feel free to share your own summary in the comments below.

Here is a more visual description of information processing:

 

This can get confusing because it takes more than information processing. Other cognitive functions are needed:

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  • Attending: paying the right attention to stuff so we know what information must be processed,
  • Concentrating: focussing on the right things for the right amount of time, when needed,
  • Memory: remembering how to do things,
  • Association: bring to mind similar past information that would be useful now: memories, actions, situations

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Damage to any of these processes can also interrupt efficient processing of information.

 

How Does Reduced Speed of Information Processing Affect Brain Function?

Changes that can happen when information processing is interrupted after brain injury:
Reduced information processing after brain injury Photo of complex circuit board with lots of wires
Image by Chris Scott

The speed of absorbing the information coming into the brain;

The ability to sort that information;

Being able to use the right information for the right task; may be slowed or interrupted.

The brain might receive too much information for it to handle; or too quickly, or it is too complex,

At some point the brain will not be able to cope and information will get missed or lost.

If the brain is already overloaded, if a person is already struggling because of brain injury – this may happen sooner and more often.

 

What Does ‘Reduced Speed of Information Processing’ Look Like:

A person who has reduced speed of information processing after brain injury may find:

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  • It may be difficult to do more than one thing at a time.
  • Pieces of information may be missed, or it might take longer to take in and understand information.
  • It is hard to keep up with conversations, or discussions.
  • You are not able to take in all the information needed for complex tasks and instructions. For instance driving a car might not be possible because of the multiple skills needed, quickly, and often all at once

    Reduced Speed of Information processing. Drawing of brain as green computer circuit board
    Reduced Speed of Information processing ArtificialFictionBrain by Gengiskanhg WikiPedia
  • You might be slower to respond to requests to do tasks or follow instructions.
  • It might take longer than expected to complete tasks.
  • Slower to form a response to a question or instruction. You might know the right answer, or response, but it takes longer to come up with it.
  • Difficulty responding adequately and in the time needed. If there was an emergency situation, your response and thinking time might not be quick enough.

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Tips and Suggestions For Managing Reduced Speed of Information Processing After Brain Injury:

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  • Pay extra attention to avoiding fatigue, or managing it.
  • Learn what factors improve the ability to take in information, and what factors reduce ability to process information. Use this knowledge to build strategies that work.
  • If taking in verbal information – think about recording it. It can then be listened to later, and played in chunks that can be understood.
  • Give only one instruction, or ask only one question, at a time.
  • Give information at a speed the person can follow – too fast and the information is not followed, too slow and the person may feel they are being patronized.
  • Break information down into small blocks. Be a Task Buster.
  • Wait till each step is completed before giving instructions for the next step.
  • Repeat instructions as often as necessary. Patiently.
  • Allow the extra time needed to complete tasks. For pressure situations such as exams this might mean negotiating with the school, or organization who are setting the exam.
  • Use whatever means works to record messages, reminders and instructions: chat programs, email, phone for voice or SMS messages, check out available Apps, diary.
  • Allow extra time to for the person to think, and explain.
  • Avoid activities with strict time limits where possible.
  • Check regularly that the person is keeping up with the information they are being given.[/unordered_list]

 

And Finally

Still looking for more information about information processing after brain injury  – Project LEARNet has a great article. While the focus is on children and young people it has good explainations about reduced (slow) information processing and strategies to manage it.

 

The following video also explains more about how information processing works. This video gets your brain working, and learning at the same time!