What could be a direct result of a traumatic brain injury affecting the prefrontal lobes?

The prefrontal lobes are critical for higher cognitive functions, including judgment, planning, decision-making, and emotional regulation. When a traumatic brain injury affects these areas, individuals often experience significant impairments in their ability to make sound judgments or create effective plans. This impairment can manifest as poor decision-making, difficulties in organizing thoughts, and challenges in predicting the outcomes of their actions.

Understanding the role of the prefrontal lobes helps clarify why impaired judgment and planning abilities would be a direct consequence of injuries in this area. In contrast, the other options suggest improvements in cognitive or emotional functions, which are not typically associated with damage to the prefrontal lobes following a traumatic brain injury.