Due to differences in modalities , time course , study design and outcomes , it is not possible to define a single ‘ physiological time window ’ for SRC recovery .
Multiple studies suggest physiological dysfunction may outlast current clinical measures of recovery , supporting a buffer zone of gradually increasing activity before full contact risk .
Aim or objective The aim of this study is to consoli date studies of physiological measures following sport-related concussion ( SRC ) to determine if a time course of postinjury altered neurobiology can be outlined .
This biological time course was considered with respect to clinical ly relevant outcomes such as vulnerability to repeat injury and safe timing of return to physical contact risk .
Evaluating the cognitive consequences of mild traumatic brain injury and concussion by using electrophysiology.
OBJECT Mild traumatic brain injury ( MTBI ) , often referred to as concussion when it occurs in sports , produces persistent cognitive problems in at least 15 % of patients . Unfortunately , conventional neuropsychological tests usually yield results within normal limits in this population . The main objective of this event-related potential ( ERP ) study was to underst and brain functioning during the performance of a working memory ( WM ) task in patients who have sustained an MTBI , mostly due to motor vehicle accident or sports concussion . This study also aim ed for a better underst and ing of the association between brain functioning as measured with ERP , behavioral performance on the WM task , postconcussion symptoms , type of injury ( that is , sports concussion vs other types ) , and time since the injury . METHODS Forty-four patients with MTBI ( 7.6 ± 8.4 months postinjury ) were tested on a visual WM task with simultaneous recording of ERP , and were compared with 40 control volunteers who were their equivalent for age and sex . Amplitude and latency of frontal ( N200 and N350 ) and parietal ( P200 and P300 ) ERP waves were measured and were compared between groups . Correlation analyses were also performed between ERP characteristics , clinical variables , and behavioral performance . RESULTS A significant group difference was found for behavioral performance on the WM task , in which the MTBI group had a lower percentage of correct answers than the control group ( p < 0.05 ) . The patients with MTBI also had smaller amplitudes of both frontal N350 and parietal P300 ERP components when compared with control volunteers ( p < 0.05 ) . No changes were found for latency of ERP components . Smaller ERP amplitudes were associated with slower reaction times and worse accuracy on the WM task among patients with MTBI ( p < 0.05 ) . Types of injury ( that is , sports concussion vs other mechanisms ) were not associated with different ERP characteristics . CONCLUSIONS Abnormal ERP results are observed in patients after MTBI or sports concussion , even for those in the nonacute stage after their injury . Current st and ard clinical evaluations most often fail to detect cerebral dysfunction after MTBI , even when patients or athletes report symptoms . Clinicians should be aware that patients with MTBI , including sports concussion , probably have underlying mild but persistent cerebral dysfunctions that require further investigation
Due to differences in modalities , time course , study design and outcomes , it is not possible to define a single ‘ physiological time window ’ for SRC recovery .
Multiple studies suggest physiological dysfunction may outlast current clinical measures of recovery , supporting a buffer zone of gradually increasing activity before full contact risk .
Aim or objective The aim of this study is to consoli date studies of physiological measures following sport-related concussion ( SRC ) to determine if a time course of postinjury altered neurobiology can be outlined .
This biological time course was considered with respect to clinical ly relevant outcomes such as vulnerability to repeat injury and safe timing of return to physical contact risk .