Visual imagery as a cognitive means of compensation for brain injury

In this article we are interested in presenting a cognitive therapeutic approach to cases of brain damage based in essence on the principle of compensation, as opposed to the usual cognitive treatment methods which attempt direct treatment of the damaged link in the thinking process. The present case is a patient who suffered a left fronto-temporal injury, resulting in severe problems with understanding verbal material, and who was taught to use the undamaged right hemisphere to translate the verbal material into visual material. He was then instructed to 're-translate' the processed material that he understood back into verbal material. The use of this treatment method is based on the principle of dual coding, which allows for a more meaningful consolidation of learned material. Additionally, it is crucial that the material used within this treatment approach be meaningful to the patient, in order that his motivation be increased.