Exploring Functional Connectivity Among Adults with Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

du Plessis, Sané

Exploring Functional Connectivity Among Adults with Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

dc.contributor.advisor	Debert, Chantel
dc.contributor.author	du Plessis, Sané
dc.contributor.committeemember	Kirton, Adam
dc.contributor.committeemember	Dunn, Jeffrey
dc.date	2023-02
dc.date.accessioned	2022-12-08T23:20:33Z
dc.date.available	2022-12-08T23:20:33Z
dc.date.issued	2022-12-01
dc.description.abstract	Approximately one third of all concussions lead to persistent post concussion syndrome (PPCS). Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures the differences in the absorption of local oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin in the brain. The changes in cerebral tissue oxygenation are then used to monitor brain activity. fNIRS has demonstrated comparability to fMRI for reliably detecting changes in cerebral vascular reactivity and may provide insight into the pathophysiology of PPCS. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic response of participants with PPCS to symptom burden using fNIRS in frontal and motor brain regions. Thirty-four adults (18-65) with PPCS (>3 months - 5 years) were asked to complete a series of clinical questionnaires including the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire (RPQ) to assess symptom burden and complete a resting task, motor task, and working memory task during fNIRS assessments. Demographic information including age, sex, education level and employment status, and participant characteristics including concussion history, past medical history, medication use, and family medical history were also collected. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between functional connectivity measures and symptom severity scores after consideration for age, sex, and time since injury. RPQ scores were not found to be significantly related to connectivity measures for oxy- (β = -0.02, p = 0.90) or deoxyhemoglobin (β = 0.31, p = 0.08) between the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the working memory task. However, increased deoxyhemoglobin functional connectivity measures between the left and right DLPFC during the working memory task were significantly related to higher depression scores (β = 0.44, p < 0.05), anxiety scores (β = 0.54, p < 0.05), somatoform symptom scores (β = 0.43, p < 0.05), and post-traumatic stress injury scores (β = 0.43, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the relationship between working memory fNIRS connectivity values and RPQ was further explored by analyzing the relationship between specific symptoms and fNIRS outcomes. Several RPQ items were significantly related to task-evoked deoxyhemoglobin functional connectivity scores between the left and right DLPFC including “feeling depressed or tearful” (β = 0.41, p < 0.05), “poor memory or forgetting” (β = 0.34, p < 0.05), and “difficulty concentrating” (β = 0.34, p < 0.05). The preliminary data and results from this study may contribute to a better understanding of brain function and specific symptoms in patients with PPCS.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	du Plessis, S. (2022). Exploring functional connectivity among adults with persistent post-concussion syndrome using functional near infrared spectroscopy (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/115572
dc.identifier.uri	https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/40516
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Cumming School of Medicine	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	Post Concussion Syndrome	en_US
dc.subject	Concussion	en_US
dc.subject	Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy	en_US
dc.subject	fNIRS	en_US
dc.subject	Functional Connectivity	en_US
dc.subject	Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome	en_US
dc.subject	Mild Traumatic Brain Injury	en_US
dc.subject	Traumatic Brain Injury	en_US
dc.subject	mTBI	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Sciences	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Neuroscience	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Medicine and Surgery	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Rehabilitation and Therapy	en_US
dc.title	Exploring Functional Connectivity Among Adults with Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Medicine – Neuroscience	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US