Open AccessReduced brain connectivity and mental flexibility in mild traumatic brain injury
Author(s) -
Pang Elizabeth W.,
Dunkley Benjamin T.,
Doesburg Sam M.,
da Costa Leodante,
Taylor Margot J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.280
Subject(s) - traumatic brain injury , context (archaeology) , neuropsychology , magnetoencephalography , medicine , neuroimaging , cognitive flexibility , concussion , cognition , neuroscience , flexibility (engineering) , task (project management) , functional connectivity , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , poison control , injury prevention , electroencephalography , psychiatry , statistics , mathematics , environmental health , management , economics , biology , paleontology
Objective A mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, has known neuropsychological sequelae, and neuroimaging shows disturbed brain connectivity during the resting state. We hypothesized that task ‐based functional connectivity measures, using magnetoencephalography ( MEG ), would better link the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive deficits to specific brain damage. Methods We used a mental flexibility task in the MEG and compared brain connectivity between adults with and without mTBI. Results Affected individuals showed significant reductions in connectivity. When challenged with a more difficult task, these individuals were not able to “boost” their connectivity, and as such, showed deterioration in performance. Interpretation We discuss these findings in the context of limitations in cognitive reserve as a consequence of a mTBI.