Neural and Behavioral Sequelae of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a common occurrence from roadside blasts of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In this cross-sectional study, we applied neurobehavioral testing and advanced MRI techniques [task-activated functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)] to gain a comprehensive understanding of the neural changes underlying blast-related mild TBI ( MTBI). We accomplished this goal by conducting advanced neuroimaging (task-activated fMRI and DTI fiber tracking) and neurobehavioral testing (computerized assessment and standard neuropsychological testing) on 60 chronic trauma patients: 15 military MTBI patients who had blast injuries, 15 civilian MTBI patients with mechanical closed head injuries, 15 military and 15 civilian patients with orthopedic injuries. Key findings on the stop signal fMRI task include a distinct pattern of brain activation in the military blast MTBI group which differed from the civilian MTBI group on failed inhibition trials. On the Sternberg working memory task, fMRI findings show that increases in brain activation with memory load are reduced in specific brain regions of the military blast MTBI group, also suggesting that the chronic effects of blast MTBI differ from mechanical MTBI in civilians. We completed recruitment of subjects, scoring and entering of outcome data, and continue imaging data analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA589916
Entities
People
- Stephen M Rao