Cited by 47Traumatic Brain Injury ResearchTraumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular DisturbancesAutomotive and Human Injury Biomechanics

Orbitofrontal cortical thinning and aggression in mild traumatic brain injury patients

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Epstein, Daniel J., Legarreta, Margaret, Bueler, Elliot, King, Jace, McGlade, Erin, Yurgelun‐Todd, Deborah·2016·Brain and Behavior

Abstract

Introduction: Although mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) comprises 80% of all TBI, the morphological examination of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in relation to clinical symptoms such as aggression, anxiety and depression in a strictly mTBI sample has never before been performed. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to determine if mTBI patients would show morphological differences in the OFC and if the morphology of this region would relate to clinical symptoms. Methods: Using structural images acquired in a 3T MRI machine, the cortical thickness and cortical volume (corrected for total brain volume) of the OFC was collected for healthy control (N = 27) subjects and chronic mTBI (N = 55) patients at least one year post injury. Also, during clinical interviews, measures quantifying the severity of clinical symptoms, including aggression, anxiety, and depression, were collected. Results: MTBI subjects displayed increased aggression, anxiety, and depression, and anxiety and depression measures showed a relationship with the number of mTBI in which the subject lost consciousness. The cortical thickness of the right lateral OFC displayed evidence of thinning in the mTBI group; however, after correction for multiple comparisons, this difference was no longer significant. Clinical measures were not significantly related with OFC morphometry. Conclusion: This study found increased aggression, anxiety, and depression, in the mTBI group as well as evidence of cortical thinning in the right lateral OFC. The association between clinical symptoms and the number of mTBI with loss of consciousness suggests the number and severity of mTBI may influence clinical symptoms long after injury. Future studies examining other brain regions involved in the production and regulation of affective processes and inclusion of subjects with well‐characterized mood disorders could further elucidate the relationship between mTBI, brain morphology, and clinical symptoms.

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Authors
Epstein, D. J., Legarreta, M., Bueler, E., King, J., McGlade, E., & Yurgelun‐Todd, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Utah (US)
  • Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (US)
  • Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory Salt Lake City UT USA
  • Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
Corresponding author
Epstein, Daniel J.
Venue
Brain and Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-09-28
Volume
6
Issue
12
Pages
e00581-e00581
ISSN
  • 2157-9032 (ISSN-L)
  • 2162-3279
OpenAlex
W2524766497
Cited by
47
References
86
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
FWCI
3.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain and Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Health Services Research and Development (5I01CX000253‐02)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Automotive and Human Injury Biomechanics
Keywords
mild traumatic brain injury, orbitofrontal cortex, cortical thinning, aggression, anxiety, depression, cortical thickness, loss of consciousness, mood disorders, brain structure
MeSH terms
Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Adult, Aggression, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Case-Control Studies, Prefrontal Cortex

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