This virtual workshop will explore cutting-edge approaches to enhancing cognitive recovery and rehabilitation in individuals with brain injury and neuropsychiatric conditions. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of neuroplasticity's role in recovery, including five forms of functional adaptation that underpin brain repair and restructuring. Complementing this, the event introduces Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) and CogSMART, evidence-based interventions designed to improve cognitive function and everyday performance through practical strategy implementation. Join us for an exploration of these innovative frameworks, offering actionable insights for clinical application and research.

Learning Objectives
As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the different forms of functional neuroplasticity.

2. Identify the techniques that can be used to reinforce recovery of function.

3. List domains of cognitive functioning targeted in CogSMART/Compensatory Cognitive Training.

Target Audience: Neuropsychologists, Rehabilitation specialists, Occupational therapists, Cognitive rehabilitation therapists, Psychiatrists, Researchers in neuropsychology, neuroscience, and rehabilitation. This workshop is particularly relevant for professionals and trainees working with individuals recovering from brain injuries, neuropsychiatric conditions, or cognitive impairments.

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Jordan Grafman, PhD, is director of Brain Injury Research and Chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (SRALab) and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Before joining the SRALab, Dr. Grafman was Chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the National Institute Neurological Disorders and Stroke for several decades. His investigation of brain function and behavior has contributed to advances in medicine, rehabilitation, and psychology, and informs ethics, law, philosophy, and health policy. His study of the human prefrontal cortex and cognitive neuroplasticity incorporates neuroimaging and genetics, an approach that is expanding our knowledge of the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as other diseases that impair brain function, such as stroke and degenerative diseases. Dr. Grafman always aims to translate his research into more effective, targeted rehabilitation to achieve the best outcomes for people with cognitive disabilities. He has authored more than 590 research publications, was co-editor of the journal Cortex, and provides peer review for numerous specialty journals and grant institutions. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the second edition of the Encyclopedia of the Human Brain. His research impact factor of 143 is among the highest at Northwestern University. As noted above, while at the National Institutes of Health, he served as chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. While in the US Air Force, he served at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as neuropsychology chief of the Vietnam Head Injury Study (VHIS), a long-term study of more than 500 soldiers with TBI suffered in combat. Dr. Grafman assumed leadership of the study since 1990. He is the world’s leading expert on the long-term effects of penetrating brain injuries in military personnel. His expertise includes the scope of challenges faced during recovery, including behavioral changes like aggression, late sequelae such as seizures, the impact of TBI on the onset of late-life neurodegenerative disorders, and the impact on TBI on family life and employment, and legal implications. He is an elected fellow of the American Psychological Association and the New York Academy of Sciences. Dr. Grafman is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Award, the National Institutes of Health Award of Merit, 2010 National Institutes of Health Director’s Award, and the Humboldt Research Award from Germany. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. His expert opinion is often sought by national media on issues related to brain function and behavior, traumatic brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, and policy and legal issues related to brain-behavior research. His current research focuses on the brain bases of belief and the brain networks supporting reward and reinforcement.

Dr. Twamley is a neuropsychologist and a Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. Much of her work is based at the VA San Diego Healthcare System, where she is a VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Research Career Scientist and the Director of the Clinical Research Unit of the Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health. Dr. Twamley’s research has focused on cognitive training and other interventions to improve real-world functioning for individuals with severe mental illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, and other cognitive impairments. She has developed and evaluated Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) and Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART) with funding from NIH, VA, DoD, NSF, BBRF/NARSAD, and UC San Diego grants. These treatment manuals and other clinical materials are available at no charge on her website, www.cogsmart.com.