Qualcomm Institute, University of California San Diego

Marked Increases in Resting-State MEG Gamma-Band Activity in Combat-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Cerebral Cortex
  • May 2019
Combat-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a leading cause of sustained impairments in military service members and veterans. Recent animal studies show that GABA-ergic parvalbumin-positive interneurons are susceptible to brain injury, with damage causing abnormal increases in spontaneous gamma-band (30–80 Hz) activity. This is the first human study to demonstrate abnormal resting-state gamma activity in mTBI. These novel findings suggest the possibility that abnormal gamma activities may be a proxy for GABA-ergic interneuron dysfunction and a promising neuroimaging marker of insidious mild head injuries.
Huang_et_al_MEG_gamma_mTBI_Cerebral_Cortex_2019_bhz087

Figure 1. Group differences in gamma-band resting-state MEG activity. Hyperactivity (red-yellow color) and hypoactivity (blue-cyan color) in gamma-band resting-state MEG source imaging in individuals with mTBI, compared with healthy controls. The Z coordinates in MNI-152 standard space are displayed for the images +58 to −27 with 5 mm gaps. The 9 magenta arrows indicate representative areas in which gamma activity was significantly correlated with neuropsychological test scores; see Figures 2 and 3. Images are displayed in radiological view.