In a new study from Tufts University School of Medicine, scientists have unveiled new insights into the brain’s response to traumatic injuries, suggesting that the effects of a head injury extend far beyond the initial site of impact. Through advanced imaging techniques, the research team discovered that in the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the brain’s hemispheres collaborate to form new neural pathways, compensating for lost connections.
This research, recently published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, suggests that the impact of a TBI extends far beyond the immediate area of damage, affecting the entire brain and altering its function in unforeseen ways.
For decades, the focus of TBI research has predominantly been on the site of injury, with the broader effects on the brain often overlooked. Previous studies have laid the groundwork by demonstrating the immediate and long-term consequences of TBIs, including cognitive and motor dysfunction, increased risk of epilepsy, and even a predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases.
Samantha Bottom-Tanzer, et al, Traumatic brain injury disrupts state-dependent functional cortical connectivity in a mouse model, Cerebral Cortex, Volume 34, Issue 2, February 2024, bhae038, https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae038
Comments