Abstract
Aim:The underlying neurophysiological effects of concussion often result in attenuated cognitive and cortical function. To understand the relation between cognition and brain injury, we investigated the effects of concussion on attentional networks using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Materials & methods:Healthy controls and concussed patients, tested within 72 h from injury (T1) and after symptoms resolved (T2) completed a computerized attention task during fNIRS imaging.Results:T1 patients exhibited slower reaction times and reduced brain activation pattern relative to healthy controls. Interestingly, the cortical oxygenation hemoglobin response at T2 was greater relative to T1 and healthy controls, while reaction time was normative.Conclusion:The exploratory findings of this study suggest once asymptomatic, a compensatory hemodynamic response may support the restoration of reaction time despite ongoing physiological recovery.
Highlights
The present results indicate that shortly after their injury, concussed patients respond more slowly and exhibit less cortical activation than gender- and age-matched controls
Once concussed patients become asymptomatic, they respond just as quickly as controls and exhibit hyperactivity in bilateral frontal, temporal and right parietal regions. These findings suggest that after concussed patients become asymptomatic, a compensatory boost of the hemodynamic response supports their ability to respond quickly, despite ongoing physiological recovery
This is noteworthy, as current clinical assessments are unable to reliably assess underlying recovery and may put athletes at risk for prolonged recovery or secondary injury if they return to sport prematurely
Summary
The underlying neurophysiological effects of concussion often result in attenuated cognitive and cortical function. In Experiment 1, we aimed to establish normative behavioral performance and cortical hemodynamic response in healthy adults performing an attentional temporal flanker task during fNIRS neuroimaging. In Experiment 2, we aimed to explore alterations of the hemodynamic response in concussed patients relative to a subgroup of controls from Experiment 1 using the same task. This project aimed at uncovering neurophysiological alterations following concussion, which may not be completely mitigated after returning to normal symptom thresholds
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