Alterations in Structural Correlation Networks with Prior Concussion in Collision-Sport Athletes
Muhammad Usman Sadiq, Diana Svaldi, Trey Shenk, Evan Breedlove,, Victoria Poole, Greg Tamer, Kausar Abbas, Thomas Talavage

TL;DR
This study investigates how prior concussion affects brain structural networks in collision-sport athletes, revealing increased small-worldness and potential disruptions in neuronal integration compared to controls.
Contribution
It introduces graph-based topological analysis of anatomical correlation networks to assess concussion-related brain changes in athletes.
Findings
Higher small-worldness in athletes without concussion history compared to controls.
Concussion history associated with longer path lengths indicating disrupted neuronal integration.
Altered network topology linked to prior concussion in collision-sport athletes.
Abstract
Several studies have used structural correlation networks, derived from anatomical covariance of brain regions, to analyze neurologic changes associated with multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and breast cancer [1][2]. Graph-theoretical analyses of human brain structural networks have consistently shown the characteristic of small-worldness that reflects a network with both high segregation and high integration. A large neuroimaging literature on football players, with and without history of concussion, has shown both functional and anatomical changes. Here we use graph-based topological properties of anatomical correlation networks to study the effect of prior concussion in collision-sport athletes. 40 high school collision-sport athletes (23 male football, 17 female soccer; CSA) without self-reported history of concussion (HOC-), 18 athletes (13 male football, 5 female soccer) with…
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Taxonomy
TopicsFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies · Traumatic Brain Injury Research · Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
