EXPLORING THE EFFICACY OF FACEBOOK- BASED TRAINING IN ENHANCING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS FOR ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a prevalent disorder in the population, characterized by the presence of impairments in executive functions that can become greatly disabling, hence there is a need for highly effective treatments. The following intervention proposal aims to use tools and resources available on the Facebook platform to create a series of tasks that complement the process-based neuropsychological rehabilitation program for this type of patients. The general objective of this proposal is to design, implement and test the effectiveness of an intervention program based on cognitive training through the use of Facebook, in order to improve executive deficits present in patients with ABI. In addition, we will study the potential effects on memory functions and social skills. To achieve this, 24 patients will be recruited to participate in a 9-session treatment, and will be evenly divided into two groups, either the experimental or the control. Following the intervention, even though each group is expected to present enhancements in the assessed executive sub- processes (cognitive flexibility, attentional control, goal setting and information processing), we anticipate significant differences between them. In this way, the experimental group will show a significant improvement in executive functioning in addition to an increase in social skills and memory. This approach represents important and innovative implications for future research compared to other well-established procedures, as it offers numerous advantages, such as low cost, wide and easy accessibility, social support and motivation enhancement, flexibility in scheduling and location, diverse resources, possibility of receiving feedback, adaptability to different profiles and needs, continuity, and intervention monitoring, among others.