Certified Brain Injury Specialist Exam
What is pseudobulbar affect - (correct Answer) - neurologic condition in which people are prone to
sudden, unexpected, inexplicable, and often inordinate episodes of crying or laughing
What factors influence the type and extent of behavioral difficulties an individual may demonstrate after
brain injury? - (correct Answer) - site and severity of damage; pre-injury characteristics of personality,
intelligence, and learning style, and the current environment
What is coma-emergent agitation? How long does it last? - (correct Answer) - episode of agitation that
may occur as an individual emerges from coma that is usually brief, lasting less than 10 days in duration
What is consequence-based programming? - (correct Answer) - interventions focused on learning; not
indicated for individuals emerging from coma and demonstrating agitation or confusion
What is often the safest and most efficient technique for dealing with agitation in a behavior-based
manner? - (correct Answer) - through environmental management, where the focus is on offering a
quiet, organized, and structured environment with limited and carefully managed stimulation
What is the Stability Triangle? - (correct Answer) - Is a construct which is useful when identifying
treatment priorities and establishing the treatment plan; contains the following: establish medical
stability, promote behavior stability, and develop a stable activity plan
What is applied behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - the science of prediction and change of socially
significant behaviors
What is behavior? - (correct Answer) - anything an individual does that can be measured, NOT
necessarily yelling/hitting/spitting/etc.
What is the goal of applied behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - to discover variables that reliably
influence behavior to either predict behavior change or promote behavior change
What are indirect methods of behavior assessment? - (correct Answer) - interviews, checklists, may be
reviewed with caregivers, family members, and the individual themselves; can be subject to bias d/t self-
reporting
What are direct methods of behavior assessment? - (correct Answer) - direct observations of an
individual, either in a naturally-occurring situation or one in which specific variables have been
controlled or manipulated for assessment purposes
What is Functional Analysis/Functional Assessment - (correct Answer) - methods of direct observation
within the field of behavior analysis conducted by BCBA to pinpoint the potential function or purpose of
a behavior via experimental manipulation
What is a functionally equivalent alternative? - (correct Answer) - a behavior that serves the same
function as the target behavior but is safer or more appropriate and thus more useful for the individual
(e.g., instead of yelling resulting in d/c of a non-preferred task, request a break)
What is an operational definition? - (correct Answer) - a definition that outlines what exactly will be
,counted as an occurrence or episode of the behavior; must be observable and measurable, and the
definition must be specific enough such that multiple observers can agree upon what would count as an
occurrence
What are two dimensions of a behavior that will be important to take into account when developing an
operational definition? - (correct Answer) - topography (what the behavior looks like physically) and
intensity (describing the measure of force)
What are five variables of interest when measuring behavior? - (correct Answer) - frequency, rate,
duration, latency, and % correct
What is the four-term contingency within the field of behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - establishing
operation; discriminative stimulus; response/behavior; consequence
What is A-B-C analysis? - (correct Answer) - A=antecedent, B=behavior/response, C=consequence
What is positive reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - adding something makes a response more likely to
occur in the future (e.g., if you do your chores, I'll give you $5)
What is negative reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - taking away something makes a response more
likely to occur in the future (e.g., if you do your HW, you can skip chores tonight)
What is positive punishment? - (correct Answer) - adding something to make a response less likely in the
future (e.g., if you hit your sister, you have to do the chores)
What is negative punishment? - (correct Answer) - taking something away to make a response less likely
in the future (e.g., if you hit your sister, you can't play Xbox)
What are 3 kinds of schedules of reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - extinction (decline in previously
reinforced response d/t no more consequence), continuous (response always produces reinforcer), and
intermittent (response sometimes produces a reinforcer)
What are consequence-based interventions? - (correct Answer) - systematic intervention wherein the
target behavior is followed by a specific kind of consequences, which depends on whether the behavior
is targeted for increase or decrease
What is a task analysis? - (correct Answer) - a list of very specific steps involved in completing a task; can
be used to break down larger tasks into smaller component steps
What is a shaping technique? - (correct Answer) - reinforcing actions that loosely resemble the target
behavior and are more easily displayed by an individual (successive approximations)
What is fading? - (correct Answer) - the process by which one learns to produce the same response
under gradually changing conditions
What is generalization? - (correct Answer) - when one begins to respond similarly to different stimuli or
situations in which they have not been trained
What is discrimination? - (correct Answer) - when an individual responds differently to similar stimuli
What are some examples of paraverbal behavior? - (correct Answer) - personal space, body posture and
, motion, facial expression and gaze, and tone, volume and cadence of speech
What are some de-escalation techniques to consider when individuals demonstrate increased frustration
and agitation? - (correct Answer) - active listening, orientation, redirection, setting limits, withdrawing
attention, and contracting (clearly defining the parameters of expectation)
How many Americans are living with long-term disabilities secondary to brain injury? - (correct Answer) -
5.3 million
What is cognition (as described by ACRM)? - (correct Answer) - a complex collection of conscious mental
activity such as attention, perception, comprehension, remembering, or using language and can
generally be thought of as an individual's ability to mentally represent, organize, or manipulate the
environment
What are the five types of attention? - (correct Answer) - focused, sustained, selective, alternating,
divided
What is focused attention? - (correct Answer) - ability to respond discretely to specific visual, auditory or
tactile stimuli
What is sustained attention? - (correct Answer) - maintain attention to complete a task accurately and
efficiently over a period of time
What is selective attention? - (correct Answer) - maintain attention in presence of competing distractors
What is alternating attention? - (correct Answer) - shift focus between tasks
What is divided attention? - (correct Answer) - respond simultaneously to multiple task demands while
maintaining speed and accuracy
What are rehabilitation interventions for attention deficits? - (correct Answer) - vary by function of the
particular component of attention or system they target; can include reducing the effect of distracters on
an individuals' level of attention, increasing level of distracters to simulate real-life demands/challenges
What is Attention Process Training (APT)? - (correct Answer) - a program to target attention that is a
component of a hierarchically organized, process specific approach to cognitive rehabilitation
What is categorization? - (correct Answer) - a reasoning ability that enables an individual to organize and
manage information; deficits in TBI c/b difficulty responding to complex, multidimensional stimuli;
patients may base decisions about category membership according to single, salient attributes
What is the Categorization Program? - (correct Answer) - a therapeutic approach aimed at remediation
of deficits in both object categorization and decision-making
What are the three basic components of memory? - (correct Answer) - encoding, storage, and retrieval
What are the four main types of memory? - (correct Answer) - sensory memory (or immediate memory),
short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory
What is sensory memory? - (correct Answer) - holds information from the senses for a few seconds
immediately after the item is perceived
What is pseudobulbar affect - (correct Answer) - neurologic condition in which people are prone to
sudden, unexpected, inexplicable, and often inordinate episodes of crying or laughing
What factors influence the type and extent of behavioral difficulties an individual may demonstrate after
brain injury? - (correct Answer) - site and severity of damage; pre-injury characteristics of personality,
intelligence, and learning style, and the current environment
What is coma-emergent agitation? How long does it last? - (correct Answer) - episode of agitation that
may occur as an individual emerges from coma that is usually brief, lasting less than 10 days in duration
What is consequence-based programming? - (correct Answer) - interventions focused on learning; not
indicated for individuals emerging from coma and demonstrating agitation or confusion
What is often the safest and most efficient technique for dealing with agitation in a behavior-based
manner? - (correct Answer) - through environmental management, where the focus is on offering a
quiet, organized, and structured environment with limited and carefully managed stimulation
What is the Stability Triangle? - (correct Answer) - Is a construct which is useful when identifying
treatment priorities and establishing the treatment plan; contains the following: establish medical
stability, promote behavior stability, and develop a stable activity plan
What is applied behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - the science of prediction and change of socially
significant behaviors
What is behavior? - (correct Answer) - anything an individual does that can be measured, NOT
necessarily yelling/hitting/spitting/etc.
What is the goal of applied behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - to discover variables that reliably
influence behavior to either predict behavior change or promote behavior change
What are indirect methods of behavior assessment? - (correct Answer) - interviews, checklists, may be
reviewed with caregivers, family members, and the individual themselves; can be subject to bias d/t self-
reporting
What are direct methods of behavior assessment? - (correct Answer) - direct observations of an
individual, either in a naturally-occurring situation or one in which specific variables have been
controlled or manipulated for assessment purposes
What is Functional Analysis/Functional Assessment - (correct Answer) - methods of direct observation
within the field of behavior analysis conducted by BCBA to pinpoint the potential function or purpose of
a behavior via experimental manipulation
What is a functionally equivalent alternative? - (correct Answer) - a behavior that serves the same
function as the target behavior but is safer or more appropriate and thus more useful for the individual
(e.g., instead of yelling resulting in d/c of a non-preferred task, request a break)
What is an operational definition? - (correct Answer) - a definition that outlines what exactly will be
,counted as an occurrence or episode of the behavior; must be observable and measurable, and the
definition must be specific enough such that multiple observers can agree upon what would count as an
occurrence
What are two dimensions of a behavior that will be important to take into account when developing an
operational definition? - (correct Answer) - topography (what the behavior looks like physically) and
intensity (describing the measure of force)
What are five variables of interest when measuring behavior? - (correct Answer) - frequency, rate,
duration, latency, and % correct
What is the four-term contingency within the field of behavior analysis? - (correct Answer) - establishing
operation; discriminative stimulus; response/behavior; consequence
What is A-B-C analysis? - (correct Answer) - A=antecedent, B=behavior/response, C=consequence
What is positive reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - adding something makes a response more likely to
occur in the future (e.g., if you do your chores, I'll give you $5)
What is negative reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - taking away something makes a response more
likely to occur in the future (e.g., if you do your HW, you can skip chores tonight)
What is positive punishment? - (correct Answer) - adding something to make a response less likely in the
future (e.g., if you hit your sister, you have to do the chores)
What is negative punishment? - (correct Answer) - taking something away to make a response less likely
in the future (e.g., if you hit your sister, you can't play Xbox)
What are 3 kinds of schedules of reinforcement? - (correct Answer) - extinction (decline in previously
reinforced response d/t no more consequence), continuous (response always produces reinforcer), and
intermittent (response sometimes produces a reinforcer)
What are consequence-based interventions? - (correct Answer) - systematic intervention wherein the
target behavior is followed by a specific kind of consequences, which depends on whether the behavior
is targeted for increase or decrease
What is a task analysis? - (correct Answer) - a list of very specific steps involved in completing a task; can
be used to break down larger tasks into smaller component steps
What is a shaping technique? - (correct Answer) - reinforcing actions that loosely resemble the target
behavior and are more easily displayed by an individual (successive approximations)
What is fading? - (correct Answer) - the process by which one learns to produce the same response
under gradually changing conditions
What is generalization? - (correct Answer) - when one begins to respond similarly to different stimuli or
situations in which they have not been trained
What is discrimination? - (correct Answer) - when an individual responds differently to similar stimuli
What are some examples of paraverbal behavior? - (correct Answer) - personal space, body posture and
, motion, facial expression and gaze, and tone, volume and cadence of speech
What are some de-escalation techniques to consider when individuals demonstrate increased frustration
and agitation? - (correct Answer) - active listening, orientation, redirection, setting limits, withdrawing
attention, and contracting (clearly defining the parameters of expectation)
How many Americans are living with long-term disabilities secondary to brain injury? - (correct Answer) -
5.3 million
What is cognition (as described by ACRM)? - (correct Answer) - a complex collection of conscious mental
activity such as attention, perception, comprehension, remembering, or using language and can
generally be thought of as an individual's ability to mentally represent, organize, or manipulate the
environment
What are the five types of attention? - (correct Answer) - focused, sustained, selective, alternating,
divided
What is focused attention? - (correct Answer) - ability to respond discretely to specific visual, auditory or
tactile stimuli
What is sustained attention? - (correct Answer) - maintain attention to complete a task accurately and
efficiently over a period of time
What is selective attention? - (correct Answer) - maintain attention in presence of competing distractors
What is alternating attention? - (correct Answer) - shift focus between tasks
What is divided attention? - (correct Answer) - respond simultaneously to multiple task demands while
maintaining speed and accuracy
What are rehabilitation interventions for attention deficits? - (correct Answer) - vary by function of the
particular component of attention or system they target; can include reducing the effect of distracters on
an individuals' level of attention, increasing level of distracters to simulate real-life demands/challenges
What is Attention Process Training (APT)? - (correct Answer) - a program to target attention that is a
component of a hierarchically organized, process specific approach to cognitive rehabilitation
What is categorization? - (correct Answer) - a reasoning ability that enables an individual to organize and
manage information; deficits in TBI c/b difficulty responding to complex, multidimensional stimuli;
patients may base decisions about category membership according to single, salient attributes
What is the Categorization Program? - (correct Answer) - a therapeutic approach aimed at remediation
of deficits in both object categorization and decision-making
What are the three basic components of memory? - (correct Answer) - encoding, storage, and retrieval
What are the four main types of memory? - (correct Answer) - sensory memory (or immediate memory),
short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory
What is sensory memory? - (correct Answer) - holds information from the senses for a few seconds
immediately after the item is perceived
