Neurophysiology and Cognition Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the relationship between cognitive dysfunction, structural and functional brain changes following Traumatic Brain Injury
IRAS ID
145739
Contact name
Andrew Blamire
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
We are researching the ways in which physical damage in the brain causes cognitive problems such as with memory or attention in patients following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). We will use a number of special types of MRI scans in a group of patients following TBI and in a group of healthy volunteers. By asking the subjects to also complete cognitive tests, we will examine the link between physical alterations in their brain to their cognitive problems. \n\nThis study follows a previous investigation we carried out in Newcastle where we found that using an MRI scan called a quantitative T1 map we could identify changes in the surface layer of the brain (the cortex) that were related to long lasting cognitive problems. We now aim to see if that important finding can be replicated in a second group of patients to demonstrate the value of this type of brain scan.\n\nWe also previously found that patients had problems completing the “verbal letter fluency” cognitive test after TBI. We now aim to study this test further and see whether there are differences between the patterns of brain activity in patients who struggle with this task and those who do not when the task is performed in the scanner. We will also compare patterns of brain activity when subjects are at rest to see if there are changes in the basic brain networks after injury.\n\nThis research will increase our understanding of the relationship between the physiological state of the brain and cognitive function and help to identifying specific changes which we then aim to use as markers to predict in what way a patient may be impaired. Eventually these findings may lead to more effective treatment strategies for patients.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0107
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion