Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025
09:04
Skeletal Muscle Neurovascular Coupling, Oxidative Capacity, and Microvascular Function with 'One Stop Shop' Near-infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: February 20, 2018
12.8K
Neurovascular Coupling in Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers
Patricia R Roby1,2, Jamie P DeCicco1, Avinash Chandran1,3
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Concussion history did not affect neurovascular coupling (NVC) in Special Operations Forces (SOF) soldiers. However, a dose-response relationship was observed, with more concussions correlating to greater task-related NVC differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Military Medicine
- Cerebrovascular Physiology
Background:
- Concussions and head injuries are prevalent in Special Operations Forces (SOF) due to combat exposures.
- The long-term neurophysiological consequences of repeated head impacts and blast injuries remain incompletely understood.
- Neurovascular coupling (NVC), the relationship between brain activity and blood flow, is a potential indicator of cerebrovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of concussion history on NVC in SOF combat Soldiers.
- To determine if prior concussions alter the brain's ability to regulate blood flow during cognitive tasks.
- To explore a potential dose-response relationship between the number of concussions and NVC.
Main Methods:
- 100 SOF combat Soldiers were studied, with 55% reporting a history of concussion.
- Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound assessed NVC by measuring posterior cerebral artery (PCA) velocity changes during reading and visual search tasks.
- Linear mixed-effect models analyzed group differences in PCA velocity response curves based on concussion history.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in baseline PCA velocity or NVC response were found between SOF Soldiers with and without a concussion history during cognitive tasks.
- Among SOF Soldiers with a concussion history, a significantly greater differential response to tasks was observed in those with three or more concussions compared to those with one to two.
- This suggests a dose-response effect where higher concussion incidence may be associated with altered NVC patterns.
Conclusions:
- While overall concussion history did not significantly impact NVC in this SOF cohort, a dose-dependent relationship emerged.
- Assessing NVC may offer insights into cerebrovascular function and overall health following head injuries in military personnel.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term neurophysiological effects of head impacts and blast-related injuries in SOF.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Motor Unit Stimulation
3.3K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
3.3K
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
1.2K
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
1.2K
01:27Sympathetic Pathways: Collateral Ganglia and Adrenal Medulla
2.2K
The sympathetic pathways of the collateral ganglia and adrenal medulla serve unique but interconnected roles in the sympathetic response.
Collateral Ganglia
Sympathetic preganglionic axons reach the collateral ganglia along the route of splanchnic nerves. These nerves bypass the sympathetic trunk and communicate with sympathetic postganglionic neurons housed in the prevertebral ganglia. These ganglia supply the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
The greater splanchnic nerve, formed by the...
Collateral Ganglia
Sympathetic preganglionic axons reach the collateral ganglia along the route of splanchnic nerves. These nerves bypass the sympathetic trunk and communicate with sympathetic postganglionic neurons housed in the prevertebral ganglia. These ganglia supply the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
The greater splanchnic nerve, formed by the...
2.2K
01:20Sympathetic Pathways: Sympathetic Chain Ganglia
4.9K
The sympathetic chain ganglia, also known as the sympathetic trunk ganglia or paravertebral ganglia, are a series of ganglia located bilaterally on either side of the spinal column. These ganglia serve as relay stations for the sympathetic nervous system. Preganglionic neurons originating in the spinal cord project their axons to the sympathetic chain ganglia. Within the ganglia, these preganglionic fibers synapse with postganglionic neurons.The postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic trunk...
4.9K
01:20Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscles
13.1K
Excitation-contraction coupling is a series of events that occur between generating an action potential and initiating a muscle contraction. It occurs at the triad, a structure found in skeletal muscle fibers that comprise a T-tubule and terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum on each side. These triads are visible in longitudinally sectioned muscle fibers. They are typically located at the A-I junction — the junction between the A and I bands of the sarcomere.
When an action...
When an action...
13.1K