Cognitive and Emotional Functional After Traumatic Brain Injury: An FMRI Investigation
Abstract
Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may result from physiological disruption of normal brain functioning and occurs in an estimated 20 of combat veterans. TBI severity classification is based on observable patient characteristics following the injury including length of time of Loss of Consciousness (LOC), length of Posttraumatic Amnesia (PTA) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. Postconcussive symptoms (e.g. headache, irritability, fatigue, trouble with concentration/memory) following a TBI may cause functional impairment. However, TBI severity does not consistently predict the intensity or duration of post-concussive symptoms. Because working memory and emotional reactivity problems are often reported following many TBIs, it is important to better understand factors which may impact these domains and related symptoms. Methods: Demographic, medical, behavioral and neuroimaging data were collected from 110 TBI patients and 12 healthy controls as part of a retrospective exploratory analysis using an emotional working memory fMRI task. Aim 1 explored differential effects of an emotional faces N-back task in TBI subjects vs. healthy controls. Aim 2 investigated the contributions of patient and injury characteristics (including LOC and prior blast exposure) toward differential activation patterns within the TBI group. Also within the TBI subsample, Aim 3 explored correlations between activation patterns of components of the emotional N-back task and reported neurobehavioral symptoms. Results: fMRI was used to detect changes in regional blood oxygenation associated with the hemodynamic response to brain function. Differences between the TBI and control groups were seen in interactions with emotional aspects of the task. Within the TBI group, greater performance variability and LOC correlated with differential patterns of activation. Additionally increased symptoms, particularly in the somatic subdomain, correlated with altered activation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 29, 2013
- Accession Number
- AD1127734
Entities
People
- Lindsay E. Reinhardt
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences