The impact of low-level blast exposure on brain function after a one-day tactile training and the ameliorating effect of a jugular vein compression neck collar device

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Christopher K. Rhea, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel who conduct breacher exercises are at risk for blast-related head trauma. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of low-level blast exposure during breacher training on the neural functioning of working memory and auditory network connectivity. We also aimed to evaluate the effects of a jugular vein compression collar, designed to internally mitigate slosh energy absorption, preserving neural functioning and connectivity, following blast exposure. A total of 23 SWAT personnel were recruited and randomly assigned to a non-collar (n?=?11) and collar group (n?=?12). All participants completed a 1-day breacher training with multiple blast exposure. Prior to and following training, 18 participants (non-collar, n?=?8; collar, n?=?10) completed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of working memory using N-Back task; 20 participants (non-collar, n?=?10; collar, n?=?12) completed resting-state fMRI. Key findings from the working memory analysis include significantly increased fMRI brain activation in the right insular, right superior temporal pole, right inferior frontal gyrus, and pars orbitalis post-training for the non-collar group (p?

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Neurotrauma, 36, 721-734
Language: English
Date: 2019
Keywords
auditory network functional connectivity, blast exposure, fMRI, neck collar, working memory

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