Weighted Coherence Analysis as a Window into the Neurophysiological Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting from external forces, is a leading cause of disability and death, often leading to cognitive deficits that affect attention, concentration, speech and language, learning and memory, reasoning, planning, and problem-solving. Given the diverse mechanisms underlying TBI symptoms, it is essential to characterize its neurophysiological and neuropsychological effects. To address this, we employed weighted coherence (WC) analysis in patients performing the Halstead–Reitan categorization task, alongside a control group of eight healthy individuals. Our findings indicate a significant decrease in WC within the theta and delta bands in the temporal regions during cognitive tasks in the TBI group compared to controls. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in WC in the beta and gamma bands in the parietal region during both rest and cognitive tasks in the TBI group, relative to the control group. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between WC and task performance scores in the temporal regions.