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Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Compensation through Functional Hyperconnectivity: A Longitudinal Connectome Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain
Armin Iraji1, Hanbo Chen2, Natalie Wiseman3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major public health concern. Functional MRI has reported alterations in several brain networks following mTBI. However, the connectome-scale brain network changes are still unknown. In this study, sixteen mTBI patients were prospectively recruited from an emergency department and followed up at 4-6 weeks after injury. Twenty-four healthy controls were also scanned twice with the same time interval. Three hundred fifty-eight brain landmarks that preserve structural and functional correspondence of brain networks across individuals were used to investigate longitudinal brain connectivity. Network-based statistic (NBS) analysis did not find significant difference in the group-by-time interaction and time effects. However, 258 functional pairs show group differences in which mTBI patients have higher functional connectivity. Meta-analysis showed that "Action" and "Cognition" are the most affected functional domains. Categorization of connectomic signatures using multiview group-wise cluster analysis identified two patterns of functional hyperconnectivity among mTBI patients: (I) between the posterior cingulate cortex and the association areas of the brain and (II) between the occipital and the frontal lobes of the brain. Our results demonstrate that brain concussion renders connectome-scale brain network connectivity changes, and the brain tends to be hyperactivated to compensate the pathophysiological disturbances.
Insights
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) causes widespread changes in brain connectivity, with patients showing increased functional connections. The brain may hyperactivate to compensate for these concussion-related disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Brain Injury Research
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a significant public health issue.
- Previous functional MRI studies indicate altered brain networks post-mTBI.
- Connectome-scale network changes following mTBI remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal, connectome-scale brain network alterations in mTBI patients.
- To identify specific patterns of altered functional connectivity after mild traumatic brain injury.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recruitment of 16 mTBI patients and 24 healthy controls.
- Utilized 358 brain landmarks for longitudinal brain connectivity analysis.
- Employed Network-based statistic (NBS) and multiview group-wise cluster analysis.
Main Results:
- No significant group-by-time or time effects were found in network analysis.
- 258 functional pairs exhibited group differences, with mTBI patients showing higher functional connectivity.
- Meta-analysis identified "Action" and "Cognition" as the most affected functional domains.
- Identified two patterns of functional hyperconnectivity in mTBI patients: posterior cingulate cortex to association areas, and occipital to frontal lobes.
Conclusions:
- Mild traumatic brain injury induces connectome-scale brain network connectivity changes.
- The brain exhibits hyperactivation in mTBI patients, likely as a compensatory mechanism for pathophysiological disturbances.
