Eye movement and white matter integrity in patients with post-concussion syndrome. Issue 11 (25th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taghdiri, Foad; Irwin, Samantha; Multani, Namita; Tarazi, Apameh; Ebraheem, Ahmed; Chung, Jonathan; Khodadadi, Mozghan; Goswami, Ruma; Wennberg, Richard; Green, Robin; Mikulis, Dave; Tator, Charles; Eizenman, Moshe; Tartaglia, Maria Carmela
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 51:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: A34
• Page End: A34
• Publication Date: 2017-05-25
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.86
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To assess eye movements in patients with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine relationship between eye movements and white matter integrity. Design: cross-sectional study. Intervention: Attention and executive function were tested using Visual Attention Scanning Technology (VAST) [EL-MAR Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada]. In a matching task, the normalised number of transitions (NNT) to a master image before making the first selection was used as a surrogate of working memory. During this task, subjects view a set of slides, each slide includes a master image and six variants, and they have to select a variant that is similar to the master (only one variant is an exact replica of the master). Outcome measures: We related performance on VAST to white matter integrity using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics of DTI metrics such as fractional anisotropy (FA) for whole brain analyses as well as seed-based probabilistic tractography analysis of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), Cingulum tract, and Uncinate fasciculus (UF). Main results: 60 participants (mean age 34.3 years, SD 13.8) had a mean of 4 concussions. There were negative correlations between whole brain FA and NNT (r=−0.501, p<0.001). In addition, when we performed probabilistic tractography analyses, we found a negative correlation between the FA of right SLF and NNT (r=−0.332, p=0.009). Conclusions: Impaired performance on eye tracking measures of attention and executive function may reflect alterations in white matter tracts. Competing interests: None. Moshe Eizenman is a director in EL-MAR Inc.