Chandler Sours1, Josh Betz1,
Steve Roys1, Bizhan Aarabi, Kathirkamanthan Shanmuganathan, Joel
Greenspan2, Rao Gullapalli1,3
1Core for Translational
Research in Imaging @ Maryland (CTRIM), University of Maryland School of
Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; 2Department of Biomedical
Sciences & Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of
Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, United States; 3Department of Diagnostic
Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine,
Baltimore, MD, United States
Based on cognitive deficits associated with mild TBI, we hypothesize that the default mode network (DMN) would be disrupted. Using resting state MRI, we measured the strength of functional connectivity within the DMN in TBI patients immediately following injury and at one month, comparing these to a control group. We found the strength of functional connectivity was decreased at the initial time point in the right medial temporal lobe, bilateral frontal cortex, and bilateral thalamus. This decreased functional connectivity began to normalize at one month with the exception of the frontal cortex suggesting that executive function may still be effected.
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