1. Introduction Methods Conclusions The study was conducted through the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Subjects completed an online questionnaire consisting of: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [7], which measures sleep quality Applying Decision Rules subscale of the Adult Decision Making. Competence Index [8], which measures ability to apply rules to make correct decisions. Urgency subscale of the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale [9], which measures “urgent” decision making characterized by impulsivity. Delayed Discounting measure of impulsivity [10]. Traumatic Brain Injury, Sleep, and Decision Making Amanda L. McBean, Ph.D. & Leo Schlosnagle, Ph.D. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can have devastating physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral consequences for an individual and their family. Individuals with a TBI demonstrate more impulsive decision making, which may impact social and financial decisions [1-3]. Sleep disturbances affect anywhere between 30-75% of individuals with a TBI and can persist for years after the injury [4,5]. It is known that sleep deprivation leads to suboptimal decision making among healthy individuals [6]. The current study assessed differences in decision making and impulsivity between individuals who have sustained a TBI and a healthy control group, and how sleep quality may be exacerbating individual differences in decision making and impulsivity. Results Subjects with a TBI reported worse overall sleep quality on the PSQI [7] than subjects without a TBI. Subjects with a TBI made fewer correct decisions on the Applying Decision Rules task [8] than subjects without a TBI. Subjects with a TBI reported more urgent decision making on the UPPS impulsive behavior scale [9] than subjects without a TBI. Subjects with a TBI exhibited more impulsivity by discounting delayed rewards more frequently on the delay discounting task [10] than subjects without a TBI. Among subjects who had sustained a TBI, better sleep quality was significantly related to less urgent (i.e. impulsive) decision making. Results from this study may be useful at both the basic and applied levels. At the basic level, these results may further insight into which regions and connections within the brain are damaged by TBI and the effects of TBI on sleep and decision making. At the applied level, these results suggest that comprehensive care and services for people with TBI should account for the impaired sleep and decision making that people with TBI may experience. References [1] Marson DC et al. (2005). Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86, 889-95. [2] Dreer et al. (2012). Rehabilitation Psychology, 57, 5-12. [3] McHugh & Wood (2008). Brain Injury, 22, 715-721. Murphy NA et al. (2006). Child: care, health and development, 33, 2, 180-187. [4] Baumann et al. (2007). Brain, 130, 1873-83. [5] Hibbard et al. (1998). Journal of Head Trauma and Rehabilitation, 13, 47- 57. [6] Harrison & Horne (2000). Journal of Experimental Psychology, 6, 236-49. [7] Buyse et al. (1989). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 28, 193-213. [8] Bruine de Bruin et al. (2007). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 938-956. [9] Whiteside et al. (2001). Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 669- 689. [10] Kirby & Maraković (1996). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 3 100-104. *p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001 Demographics Subjects with a TBIControlp N 69147 TBI Severity: Mild: 30.4% N/A Moderate: 30.4% Severe: 26.1% Age (SD): 38.6 (12.8)21.6 (4.8) <.001 Sex (% Female): 63.8%68.7% Race (%White): 91.2% Education (% Bachelor’s Degree+): 42.7%31.5% <.001 Table 1: Correlations (Pearson’s r) between Sleep Quality and Applying Decision Rules, Delay Discounting, and the UPSS Impulsive Behavior Scale Urgency Subscale, Split by TBI Applying Decision Rules Delay Discounting Urgent Decision Making Sleep Quality (PSQI Score: Higher scores = poorer sleep) TBI-.16.16.32* Control-.01.12.14 All analyses controlled for age