Absent-mindedness

Absent-mindedness, the phenomenon in which people find objects in completely inappropriate places, can be a symptom of a brain injury. It is caused by disruptions in the brain functions that are responsible for memory, attention, and planning.

Memory, attention, and planning are key components of how we perform and organize things (executive functions).
Executive functions are the thought processes that help us guide our behavior and achieve our goals. They are important for our daily lives and for making good choices.

Executive function disruption usually occurs in the frontal cortex, or the prefrontal cortex, the frontal lobe, and several other brain areas discussed on the executive functions page. These areas are essential for higher-level thinking (cognitive functions) such as problem-solving, decision-making, and self-regulation.
When this area is damaged, our ability to think logically and effectively plan and carry out daily tasks may be disrupted. This can lead to situations like finding your keys in the freezer or your wallet in the sock drawer. Or forgetting to put water in the kettle when you actually wanted to make a cup of tea because you were thirsty.
It might even lead to forgetting to drink water all day. You're too preoccupied with other things.

Other examples of absent-mindedness include forgetting where you parked your car, starting the washing machine for the third time without adding the laundry or finding your phone in the refrigerator.
These inconveniences are not only frustrating but may also be a sign that your brain is having trouble organizing and remembering daily tasks.

Memory

Memory is important for how we do things. It helps us remember information and retrieve it when we need it. Brain injuries may significantly damage memory. This can cause us to forget things or even have difficulty remembering our past.

For example, someone who has suffered a brain injury may have difficulty remembering appointments or important dates, which can significantly disrupt their daily life.
Memory involves seven brain areas. It isn't located in just one place in the brain. We describe this and many more examples of memory problems on the memory problems page.

Learn all about how short-term memory, long-term memory, and other types of memory, such as working memory and episodic memory, work. For more information, visit the page about memory.

Attention

Attention is an important part of how we do things. It helps us focus on what we need to do while brushing off distractions. If a person has a brain injury, this attention may diminish. This can lead to problems such as constantly wandering thoughts during a conversation or not finishing a task. For example, a person may have trouble reading a book because his or her mind keeps wandering. It is also possible that she or he leaves a lot of unfinished tasks behind. While putting groceries away in the refrigerator, you notice that the crisper drawer is dirty. So, a quick clean. At the faucet, you remember that the soap dispenser needs refilling. Meanwhile, the groceries remain disorganized or thawing, even though you're refilling the soap.
Read the page about attention and concentration. We go into more detail there with examples and tips.

Planning

Planning helps us see clearly what we need to do and how we can achieve our goals. Making plans may  be difficult for people with brain injury. This may mean a person does not know how to approach a project or even just how to organize a day. For example, she or he may struggle to organize a family outing, which can lead to chaos and confusion.

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