Transcranially-Induced Motor Evoked Potentials Following Acute Concussion

The assessment of sport-related concussions is hindered by lack of a neuroanatomic or neurophysiologic assessment of injury severity and recovery timeframe. We set out to determine if motor evoked potentials are different between acutely concussed and non-concussed collegiate athletes and determine if any relationships exist between MEP changes self-reported symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. MEP thresholds latencies and amplitudes scores on a self-reported symptoms checklist; and scores from a neurocognitive test battery were evaluated in 18 collegiate athletes (9 concussed 9 controls). The observed MEP changes provide electro­physiological evidence for the acute effects of cerebral concussion in an athletic population. Alterations in neurochemical and neurometabolic processes following concussions may explain these abnormal MEPs post-concussive symptoms and deficits in neurocognitive function.