Brain function associated with reaction time after sport-related concussion.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Concussion frequently causes functional brain disturbances within the first week post-injury.
• Computerized neurocognitive tests are standard for assessing concussion-related impairments and recovery.
• Reaction time (RT) slowing is a common concussion symptom, but the underlying brain networks are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functional brain networks associated with reaction time (RT) performance in athletes with recent concussion.
• To compare brain connectivity patterns between concussed athletes and a healthy control group.
• To explore the relationship between concussion, RT, and functional brain network connectivity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) to assess resting-state brain function.
• Analyzed data from 45 university-level athletes with concussion and 102 healthy athletes.
• Employed multivariate analysis techniques to examine main effects of concussion and RT, and their interactions on functional connectivity.

Main Results:

• Concussion was linked to widespread reductions in brain connectivity.
• Slower RT correlated with increased connectivity in parietal and temporal regions for both groups.
• In concussed athletes, slower RT was associated with disrupted connectivity between fronto-insular and default mode networks.

Conclusions:

• Concussion alters functional brain networks, impacting neurocognitive performance like reaction time.
• Specific network disruptions are identified in concussed athletes with slower RT.
• Findings suggest distinct functional brain networks are involved in concussion-related RT deficits.