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Full-Text Articles in Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment

Investigating In Vivo Brain Metabolite Levels In Concussed Female Athletes And A Murine Model Of Repetitive Closed Head Injury, Amy L. Schranz Jun 2019

Investigating In Vivo Brain Metabolite Levels In Concussed Female Athletes And A Murine Model Of Repetitive Closed Head Injury, Amy L. Schranz

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

After a concussion there is a complex cascade of events, termed the neurometabolic cascade, that includes changes in ion flux, neurotransmission, and cellular energetics. How this pathophysiological process translates into cognitive deficits remains poorly understood. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a non-invasive technique that allows for the quantification of brain metabolites that are involved in these processes, including glutamate and glutamine, which are involved in neurotransmission. Moreover, female athletes are underrepresented in studies on concussion, limiting our knowledge and understanding of sex differences. The overall goal of this thesis was to examine metabolite changes using MRS in female athletes before …


Seeing Eye To Eye: A Machine Learning Approach To Automated Saccade Analysis, Maigh Attre May 2019

Seeing Eye To Eye: A Machine Learning Approach To Automated Saccade Analysis, Maigh Attre

Honors Scholar Theses

Abnormal ocular motility is a common manifestation of many underlying pathologies particularly those that are neurological. Dynamics of saccades, when the eye rapidly changes its point of fixation, have been characterized for many neurological disorders including concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and Parkinson’s disease. However, widespread saccade analysis for diagnostic and research purposes requires the recognition of certain eye movement parameters. Key information such as velocity and duration must be determined from data based on a wide set of patients’ characteristics that may range in eye shapes and iris, hair and skin pigmentation [36]. Previous work on saccade analysis has …


Examination Of Neurocorrelates Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Young Adults, Rachel J. Raucci Apr 2017

Examination Of Neurocorrelates Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Young Adults, Rachel J. Raucci

Neuroscience Honors Papers

In recent years, there has been an upswing in the number of concussion diagnoses per year in the United States, particularly in young athletes with still-developing brains. Accompanying this recent trend is an increased amount of research on concussions and their long-term impacts. This ongoing research project collects and compares data from concussed and non-concussed individuals using various neuropsychological batteries, self-report surveys and participants’ EEG readings. Data analysis of the results from 51 participants indicates that previously concussed individuals differ from their non-concussed counterparts. Specifically, individuals who have suffered a concussion exhibit specific and occasionally idiosyncratic deficits in executive control …


Evaluating Evolving Leukocyte Populations In Peripheral Blood Circulation Post-Concussion In A Human Longitudinal Analysis Of Female Athletes, Kevin A. Blackney Apr 2017

Evaluating Evolving Leukocyte Populations In Peripheral Blood Circulation Post-Concussion In A Human Longitudinal Analysis Of Female Athletes, Kevin A. Blackney

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Concussions are generating increasing concern due to potential long-term neurological consequences. Currently there is no universally recognized diagnostic approach for concussion. I hypothesize that a signature temporal response of biomarkers of inflammation in systemic circulation will provide an objective diagnosis of concussion and could also be used to track patient recovery. The Western University women’s rugby team underwent blood draws at pre-season and post-season as a baseline evaluation, and players determined to have sustained a concussion underwent repeat blood analysis post-concussion. Blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry to profile immune cell populations alongside accepted concussion assessments, and complete blood …


Assessment Protocol For Cognitive And Auditory Processing Skills For Clients Receiving Neurofeedback Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Literature Review, Elexea N. Aurilio, Miranda Hendrus Jan 2017

Assessment Protocol For Cognitive And Auditory Processing Skills For Clients Receiving Neurofeedback Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Literature Review, Elexea N. Aurilio, Miranda Hendrus

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Neurofeedback has become increasingly popular in the medical world and will hopefully become more commonly used in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Currently, there is a lack of a singular, baseline and progression diagnostic tool to measure a client’s cognitive and auditory processing skills once they are referred for neurofeedback treatment.