Traumatic brain injury: An EEG point of view

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a silent epidemic. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) causes brain injury that results in electrophysiologic abnormalities visible on electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. The purpose of this brief review was to discuss the importance of EEG findings in traumatic brain injury. Relevant articles published during the 1996-2016 period were retrieved from Medline (PubMed). The keywords were in English and included "traumatic brain injury", "EEG" and "quantitative EEG". We found 460 articles, analyzed 52 and selected 13 articles. EEG after TBI shows slowing of the posterior dominant rhythm and increased diffuse theta slowing, which may revert to normal within hours or may clear more slowly over many weeks. There are no clear EEG or quantitative EEG (qEEG) features unique to mild traumatic brain injury. Although the literature indicates the promise of qEEG in reaching a diagnosis and indicating prognosis of mTBI, further study is needed to corroborate and refine these methods.

Toward development of clinically translatable diagnostic and prognostic metrics of traumatic brain injury using animal models: A review and a look forward

“…Typical measurement variables associated with EEG are power frequency bands from continuous measurement and amplitude and latency characteristics associated with ERP waveforms. Power frequency bands include: Delta: 0.5–4 Hz, Theta: 4 – 8 Hz, Alpha: 8–12 Hz, Beta: 12–20 Hz, Gamma: 20–80 Hz, where common findings associated with concussion are increased alpha, increased delta, and decreased theta ( Ianof and Anghinah, 2017 ; Kenzie et al, 2017 ; Nuwer et al, 2005 ; Oster et al, 2010 ; Sandsmark et al, 2017 ). Common ERP components that have been studied for sports-related concussions in human subjects include: N2, found at 200–350 ms with a frontal central distribution on the scalp ( Broglio et al, 2009 ; Gaetz and Weinberg, 2000 ; Ledwidge and Molfese, 2016 ; Moore et al, 2015 ); the P3, found at 300–800 ms with a midline parietal distribution ( Baillargeon et al, 2012 ; De Beaumont et al, 2009 ; Dupuis et al, 2000 ; Gaetz et al, 2000 ; Gosselin et al, 2006 ; Lavoie et al, 2004 ; Moore et al, 2016 ; Moore et al, 2014 ; Moore et al, 2017 ; Nandrajog et al, 2017 ; Ozen et al, 2013 ; Parks et al, 2015 ; Theriault et al, 2009 ); the error-related negativity (ERN) ( De Beaumont et al, 2009 ; Pontifex et al, 2009 ), typically occurring at 50–100 ms at the midline frontal and central scalp sites; and the error positivity (eP), which occurs at 200–500 ms following the ERN, typically observed in the midline central and parietal scalp areas ( Brush et al, 2018 ; Lesiakowski et al, 2018 ).…”

Electroencephalographic, physiologic and behavioural responses during cervical dislocation euthanasia in turkeys

“…This differed from turkeys euthanized with CD, which instead demonstrated a sustained but not significant increase in all frequency bands followed by a significant decrease from 135 to 300 s associated with a transient increase in F95, indicative of cessation of brain activity. In human encephalopathies, slowing of EEG activity with increased mean theta and delta powers for 1 to 2 min are described following acute brain trauma or chronic spinal cord injury [31, 32]. Therefore, it is likely the sustained increases in delta and theta are secondary to the external mechanical insult to the central nervous system caused by the cervical dislocation methods and validates the use of frequency bands analysis in turkeys for EEG These changes could be also attributed to severe hypoglycemia or electrolyte alterations that are the result of the varied degree of dislocation induced by these physical methods [33, 34].…”

Electroencephalographic Markers of Lateral Shifts of Brain Midline Structures in Patients With Acute Spontaneous Supratentorial Intracerebral Haemorrhage

“…Все викладене обгрунтовує доцільність об'єктивізації функціонального стану церебральних структур у пацієнтів в гострому періоді спонтанного супратенторіального внутрішньомозкового крововиливу (ССВМК) з використанням електроенцефалографічного обстеження [5]. У дослідженнях попередніх років доведена висока діагностична інформативність електроенцефа-лографії у пацієнтів з гострими ушкодженнями головного мозку переважно ішемічного та травматичного генезів [6,7], при цьому вивченню особливостей змін біоелектричної активності головного мозку у пацієнтів з півкульовим геморагічним інсультом присвячені окремі роботи [8,9]. Виявлені взаємозв'язки показників відносної спектральної потужності ритмів електроенцефалографічного патерну з тяжкістю ураження церебральних структур [10].…”