Functional near-infrared spectroscopy reveals reduced interhemispheric cortical communication after pediatric
Karolina J Urban1,2,3, Karen M Barlow4,5, Jon J Jimenez3
11Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can detect impaired brain communication after concussion. This method may offer a quantitative biomarker for monitoring recovery in pediatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a significant concern, particularly in children and adolescents, with up to 30% experiencing one by age 25.
- mTBI can lead to long-term disability and postconcussion syndrome, yet objective quantitative measures for monitoring recovery are lacking.
- Current assessment challenges stem from the absence of accepted quantitative imaging metrics for concussion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if interhemispheric brain communication is impaired following concussion.
- To explore functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a tool to quantify functional coherence between motor cortices as a potential biomarker for mTBI.
Main Methods:
- Utilized fNIRS to measure functional coherence between the left and right motor cortex during resting state and a finger-tapping task.
- Compared interhemispheric coherence in pediatric patients (ages 12-18) with mTBI (symptoms 31-473 days) to healthy controls.
- Analyzed total hemoglobin and oxy-hemoglobin levels to assess coherence.
Main Results:
- Significant differences (p<0.01) in coherence between contralateral motor cortices were detected between pediatric mTBI patients and controls.
- fNIRS measurements revealed altered interhemispheric communication in individuals with a history of concussion.
- The study included 8 controls and 12 mTBI patients.
Conclusions:
- Functional coherence analysis using fNIRS shows potential as a quantitative biomarker for concussion injury.
- This non-invasive technique may aid in objectively monitoring recovery and assessing the impact of mTBI on brain communication.
- Further research is warranted to validate fNIRS-based interhemispheric coherence as a clinical tool for concussion management.
Abstract:
Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a growing concern, especially among the pediatric population. By age 25, as many as 30% of the population are likely to have had a concussion. Many result in long-term disability, with some evolving to postconcussion syndrome. Treatments are being developed, but are difficult to assess given the lack of measures to quantitatively monitor concussion. There is no accepted quantitative imaging metric for monitoring concussion. We hypothesized that because cognitive function and fiber tracks are often impacted in concussion, interhemispheric brain communication may be impaired. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to quantify functional coherence between the left and right motor cortex as a marker of interhemispheric communication. Studies were undertaken during the resting state and with a finger-tapping task to activate the motor cortex. Pediatric patients (ages 12-18) had symptoms for 31-473 days, compared to controls, who have not had reported a previous concussion. We detected differences between patients and controls in coherence between the contralateral motor cortices using measurements of total hemoglobin and oxy-hemoglobin with a p<0.01 (n=8, control; n=12 mTBI). Given the critical need for a quantitative biomarker for recovery after a concussion, we present these data to highlight the potential of fNIRS coupled with interhemispheric coherence analysis as a biomarker of concussion injury.
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