Exploring neuroplasticity in acute mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore neuroplasticity in a longitudinal study of acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).MethodsWe are using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) during the resting state and during cognitive brain stress to explore neuroplasticity in an ongoing acute mild traumatic brain injury research. Acute mTBI patients are recruited from the emergency department of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, CA, and controls are non‐head‐trauma patients. Brain stress includes the N‐back (0‐back and 2‐back) working memory test and Color‐Word Interference Test (CWIT), administered using E‐prime software. Data were collected at three time points: within 1 week of injury, 14 days, and 30 days after injury. Behavioral as well as MEG and qEEG analysis are performed to compare the two groups.ResultsResting MEG detected low frequency activity in the mTBI group, consistent with previous publications. N‐back, in particular during 2‐back trials, and CWIT, in particular during incongruent trials, both show initial executive function impairment that improved on later visits. Time frequency analysis suggested corresponding compromised brain activity.ConclusionsThe EEG/MEG recordings during rest and brain stress are objective and sensitive to neuroplasticity in acute mTBI, and could be potential objective mTBI markers.Support or Funding InformationResearch supported by D.O.D. W81XWH‐13‐1‐0005