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Chiang HS, Motes M, Afkhami-Rohani B, Adhikari A, LoBue C, Kraut M, Cullum CM, Hart J. Verbal retrieval deficits due to traumatic brain injury are associated with changes in event related potentials during a Go-NoGo task. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:1-13. [PMID: 38663098 PMCID: PMC11216819 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Verbal retrieval (VR) deficits often occur after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the mechanisms remain unclear. We examined how event-related potentials (ERPs) during a Go-NoGo task were associated with VR deficits. METHODS Sixty veterans with a history of TBI underwent a neuropsychological battery and a Go-NoGo task with concurrent EEG recording. We compared task performance and ERP measures (N2, P3) between those with and those without persistent injury-related VR deficits. We then used generalized linear modeling to examine the relationship between ERP measures and scores on measures of executive function and processing speed. RESULTS Go-NoGo task performance was comparable between the groups. Those with VR deficits had larger N2 amplitude in NoGo than in Go conditions. In participants with VR deficits, larger NoGo N2/P3 amplitude predicted faster processing speed. Furthermore, larger P3 amplitude and shorter P3 latency of the difference wave (NoGo - Go) predicted faster processing speed in those with VR deficits. CONCLUSIONS Despite no difference in Go-NoGo task performance, ERP amplitude and latency measures associated with cognitive control during Go-NoGo distinguished TBI individuals with VR deficits from those without. SIGNIFICANCE This study furthers our understanding of VR deficits in TBI and implicates potential application of ERP measures in monitoring and treating such deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Sheng Chiang
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neurology, USA; The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, USA.
| | - Michael Motes
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, USA.
| | - Borna Afkhami-Rohani
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, USA.
| | - Ashna Adhikari
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, USA.
| | - Christian LoBue
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, USA.
| | - Michael Kraut
- The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, USA.
| | - C Munro Cullum
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neurology, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, USA.
| | - John Hart
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neurology, USA; The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, USA; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, USA.
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2
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Kutash LA, Moschonas EH, O'Neil DA, Craine TJ, Iouchmanov AL, Sunleaf CR, Nicholas MA, Grobengieser KO, Patel AK, Toader M, Ranellone TS, Rennerfeldt PL, Cheng JP, Race NS, Kline AE, Bondi CO. Sustained attention performance deficits in the three-choice serial reaction time task in male and female rats after experimental brain trauma. Brain Res 2023; 1808:148336. [PMID: 36948353 PMCID: PMC11037439 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Impaired attention is central to the cognitive deficits associated with long-term sequelae for many traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors. Assessing complex sustained attention post-TBI is clinically-relevant and may provide reliable avenues towards developing therapeutic and rehabilitation targets in both males and females. We hypothesized that rats subjected to a moderate TBI will exhibit attentional deficits seen as reduced accuracy and increased distractibility in an operant 3-choice serial reaction time task (3-CSRT), designed as an analogue of the clinical continuous performance test. Upon reaching baseline of 70% accuracy at the 300 ms cue, adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a controlled cortical impact (2.8 mm deformation at 4 m/s) or sham injury over the right parietal cortex. After two weeks of recovery, they were retested on the 3-CSRT for ten days. Dependent measures include percent accuracy (overall and for each of the three cue ports), percent omissions, as well as latency to instrumental poke and retrieve reward. Results demonstrate that both males and females displayed reduced percent accuracy and increased omissions when re-tested post-TBI on 3-CSRT compared to Sham rats and to their own pre-insult baseline (p's < 0.05). Performance accuracy was impaired consistently throughout the ten days of post-surgery re-testing, suggesting pronounced and long-lasting dysfunction in sustained attention processes. Deficits were specifically more pronounced when the cue was pseudorandomly presented in the left-side cue port (p < 0.05), mirroring clinical hemispatial neglect. These data demonstrate significant and persistent complex attention impairments in both sexes after TBI, rendering identifying efficient therapies for cognitive recovery as pivotal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay A Kutash
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eleni H Moschonas
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Darik A O'Neil
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Timothy J Craine
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Anna L Iouchmanov
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carlson R Sunleaf
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Melissa A Nicholas
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katherine O Grobengieser
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aarti K Patel
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mihaela Toader
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tyler S Ranellone
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Piper L Rennerfeldt
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cheng
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas S Race
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Association of Academic Physiatrists Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program, Owings Mills, MD, USA
| | - Anthony E Kline
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Corina O Bondi
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Korgaonkar MS, Williamson T, Bryant RA. Neural activity during response inhibition in mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100308. [PMID: 33665241 PMCID: PMC7905369 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is often characterized by deficits in response inhibition, which can contribute to marked social and occupational dysfunction. mTBI often occurs in the context of psychologically traumatic events. This can cause posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which also impedes response inhibition. The overlap or distinction in these inhibitory deficits in mTBI and PTSD is unclear. This study aimed to assess behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging indices of response inhibition in mTBI by also assessing these parameters in healthy controls (HC) and PTSD participants. Participants with mTBI (without PTSD) (n = 46), PTSD (without mTBI) (n = 41), and HC (n = 40) were assessed during a response inhibition task (the Go/NoGo task) during neuropsychological testing and separate functional magnetic imaging and event-related potentials sessions. PTSD symptom severity was assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Both mTBI and PTSD participants performed more omission errors on the Go/NoGo task and were associated with greater N2 amplitude, greater left inferior parietal activation and reduced connectivity of the left inferior parietal cluster and left angular gyrus compared to HC. There were no differences between mTBI and PTSD on any of these measures. These findings highlight that both mTBI and PTSD contribute to neural dysfunction during response inhibition, and arguably these occur due to distinct mechanisms. In the context of the common comorbidity between these two conditions, strategies to address response inhibition deficits in mTBI may need to consider causative factors underpinning neurological insult of mTBI and psychological effects associated with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuresh S. Korgaonkar
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Thomas Williamson
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard A. Bryant
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
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Shi M, Wang C, Li XZ, Li MQ, Wang L, Xie NG. EEG signal classification based on SVM with improved squirrel search algorithm. BIOMED ENG-BIOMED TE 2021; 66:137-152. [PMID: 32990644 DOI: 10.1515/bmt-2020-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a complex bioelectrical signal. Analysis of which can provide researchers with useful physiological information. In order to recognize and classify EEG signals, a pattern recognition method for optimizing the support vector machine (SVM) by using improved squirrel search algorithm (ISSA) is proposed. The EEG signal is preprocessed, with its time domain features being extracted and directed to the SVM as feature vectors for classification and identification. In this paper, the method of good point set is used to initialize the population position, chaos and reverse learning mechanism are introduced into the algorithm. The performance test of the improved squirrel algorithm (ISSA) is carried out by using the benchmark function. As can be seen from the statistical analysis of the results, the exploration ability and convergence speed of the algorithm are improved. This is then used to optimize SVM parameters. ISSA-SVM model is established and built for classification of EEG signals, compared with other common SVM parameter optimization models. For data sets, the average classification accuracy of this method is 85.9%. This result is an improvement of 2-5% over the comparison method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
| | - Xian-Zhe Li
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
| | - Ming-Qiang Li
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
| | - Neng-Gang Xie
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
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5
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Cognitive deficits and rehabilitation mechanisms in mild traumatic brain injury patients revealed by EEG connectivity markers. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:554-567. [PMID: 33453686 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the multiple specific biomarkers and cognitive compensatory mechanisms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients at recovery stage. METHODS The experiment was performed in two sections. In Section I, using event-related potential, event-related oscillation and spatial phase-synchronization, we explored neural dynamics in 24 volunteered healthy controls (HC) and 38 patients at least 6 months post-mTBI (19 with epidural hematoma, EDH; 19 with subdural hematoma, SDH) during a Go/NoGo task. In Section II, according to the neuropsychological scales, patients were divided into sub-groups to assess these electroencephalography (EEG) indicators in identifying different rehabilitation outcomes of mTBI. RESULTS In Section I, mean amplitudes of NoGo-P3 and P3d were decreased in mTBI patients relative to HC, and NoGo-theta power in the non-injured hemisphere was decreased in SDH patients only. In Section II, patients with chronic neuropsychological defects exhibited more serious impairments of intra-hemispheric connectivity, whereas inter-hemispheric centro-parietal and frontal connectivity were enhanced in response to lesions. CONCLUSIONS EEG distinguished mTBI patients from healthy controls, and estimated different rehabilitation outcomes of mTBI. The centro-parietal and frontal connectivity are the main compensatory mechanism for the recovery of mTBI patients. SIGNIFICANCE EEG measurements and network connectivity can track recovery process and mechanism of mTBI.
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6
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Krokhine SN, Ewers NP, Mangold KI, Boshra R, Lin CYA, Connolly JF. N2b Reflects the Cognitive Changes in Executive Functioning After Concussion: A Scoping Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 14:601370. [PMID: 33424568 PMCID: PMC7793768 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.601370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The N2b is an event-related potential (ERP) component thought to index higher-order executive function. While the impact of concussion on executive functioning is frequently discussed in the literature, limited research has been done on the role of N2b in evaluating executive functioning in patients with concussion. The aims of this review are to consolidate an understanding of the cognitive functions reflected by the N2b and to account for discrepancies in literature findings regarding the N2b and concussion. Methods: A scoping review was conducted on studies that used the N2b to measure cognitive functioning in healthy control populations, as well as in people with concussions. Results: Sixty-six articles that met inclusion criteria demonstrated that the N2b effectively represents stimulus-response conflict management, response selection, and response inhibition. However, the 19 included articles investigating head injury (using terms such as concussion, mild head injury, and mild traumatic brain injury) found widely varied results: some studies found the amplitude of the N2b to be increased in the concussion group, while others found it to be decreased or unchanged. Conclusion: Based on the available evidence, differences in the amplitude of the N2b have been linked to response selection, conflict, and inhibition deficits in concussion. However, due to large variations in methodology across studies, findings about the directionality of this effect remain inconclusive. The results of this review suggest that future research should be conducted with greater standardization and consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie N Krokhine
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nathalee P Ewers
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kiersten I Mangold
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Rober Boshra
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chia-Yu A Lin
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - John F Connolly
- Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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7
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Cavanagh JF, Rieger RE, Wilson JK, Gill D, Fullerton L, Brandt E, Mayer AR. Joint analysis of frontal theta synchrony and white matter following mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 14:2210-2223. [PMID: 31368085 PMCID: PMC6992511 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-019-00171-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most disabling aspects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) include lingering deficits in executive functioning. It is known that mTBI can damage white matter tracts, but it remains unknown how this structural brain damage translates into cognitive deficits. This experiment utilized theta band phase synchrony to identify the dysfunctional neural operations that contribute to cognitive problems following mTBI. Sub-acute stage (< 2 weeks) mTBI patients (N = 52) and healthy matched controls (N = 32) completed a control-demanding task with concurrent EEG. Structural MRI was also collected. While there were no performance-specific behavioral differences between groups in the dot probe expectancy task, the degree of theta band phase synchrony immediately following injury predicted the degree of symptom recovery two months later. Although there were no differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between groups, joint independent components analysis revealed that a smaller network of lower FA-valued voxels contributed to a diminished frontal theta phase synchrony network in the mTBI group. This finding suggests that frontal theta band markers of cognitive control are sensitive to sub-threshold structural aberrations following mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Cavanagh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Rebecca E Rieger
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - J Kevin Wilson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Darbi Gill
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Lynne Fullerton
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 116025, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Emma Brandt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Logan Hall, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1101 Yale Blvd, University of New Mexico, MSC 084740, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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Monroe DC, Blumenfeld RS, Keator DB, Solodkin A, Small SL. One season of head-to-ball impact exposure alters functional connectivity in a central autonomic network. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117306. [PMID: 32861790 PMCID: PMC7822072 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive head impacts represent a risk factor for neurological impairment in team-sport athletes. In the absence of symptoms, a physiological basis for acute injury has not been elucidated. A basic brain function that is disrupted after mild traumatic brain injury is the regulation of homeostasis, instantiated by activity across a specific set of brain regions that comprise a central autonomic network. We sought to relate head-to-ball impact exposure to changes in functional connectivity in a core set of central autonomic regions and then to determine the relation between changes in brain and changes in behavior, specifically cognitive control. Thirteen collegiate men's soccer players and eleven control athletes (golf, cross-country) underwent resting-state fMRI and behavioral testing before and after the season, and a core group of cortical, subcortical, and brainstem regions was selected to represent the central autonomic network. Head-to-ball impacts were recorded for each soccer player. Cognitive control was assessed using a Dot Probe Expectancy task. We observed that head-to-ball impact exposure was associated with diffuse increases in functional connectivity across a core CAN subnetwork. Increased functional connectivity between the left insula and left medial orbitofrontal cortex was associated with diminished proactive cognitive control after the season in those sustaining the greatest number of head-to-ball impacts. These findings encourage measures of autonomic physiology to monitor brain health in contact and collision sport athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek C Monroe
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Room 150 Med Surge I, Irvine, CA 92697-4275, United States.
| | - Robert S Blumenfeld
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Room 150 Med Surge I, Irvine, CA 92697-4275, United States; Department of Psychology, California State Polytechnic University, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, United States
| | - David B Keator
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, 163 Irvine Hall, Irvine, CA 92697- 3960, United States
| | - Ana Solodkin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California-Irvine, B240 Medical Science, Irvine, CA 92697-4275, United States; School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, GR 41, Richardson, TX 75080, United States
| | - Steven L Small
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Room 150 Med Surge I, Irvine, CA 92697-4275, United States; School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, GR 41, Richardson, TX 75080, United States
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