Long-term changes in the small-world organization of brain networks after concussion.

ABSTRACT: There is a growing body of literature using functional MRI to study the acute and long-term effects of concussion on functional brain networks. To date, studies have largely focused on changes in pairwise connectivity strength between brain regions. Less is known about how concussion affects whole-brain network topology, particularly the "small-world" organization which facilitates efficient communication at both local and global scales. The present study addressed this knowledge gap by measuring local and global efficiency of 26 concussed athletes at acute injury, return to play (RTP) and one year post-RTP, along with a cohort of 167 athletic controls. On average, concussed athletes showed no alterations in local efficiency but had elevated global efficiency at acute injury, which had res

SUBMITTER: Churchill NW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7994718 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature