Detection and Amelioration of Gamma Oscillation Abnormalities in Blast-Related Brain Injury
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Combat Veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have experienced serious cognitive and emotional problems resulting from exposure to blasts. Recent work suggests that a critical factor influencing the consequences of blast exposure is distance from the blast, rather than the presence or absence of concussion symptoms. Exposure to blasts from a distance of \<10 m has been associated with significantly greater cognitive and neural problems than exposure to blasts from \>10 m. So far, the effects of blast-related brain injury on the brain are poorly understood, as to date the effects of blast exposure have received little research focus. The investigators propose to use oscillations in the gamma band (30-100 Hz) of the electroencephalogram (EEG; brain waves) to detect and remediate neural circuit dysfunction related to blast injury in Veterans. If successful, this project could lead to new approaches to detect and remediate the effects of blast exposure on Veterans and aid in their functional recovery.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Research participants will be 50 veterans * Ages 18-65 years * Have experienced blast exposure * Recruited from the VA Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) at the VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) * Half of the participants will have experienced blast exposure from a Close distance (\<10 m) * Half of the participants will have experienced blast exposure from a Far distance (\>10 m) * These groups will be matched on age and female/male ratio Exclusion Criteria: Initial exclusion criteria for TRACTS are: * History of neurological illness * Huntington's * Parkinson's * dementia, etc * History of seizure disorders unrelated to head injury * Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar, or other psychotic disorder * Self-reported severe depression or anxiety requiring hospitalization overnight, or current active homicidal and/or suicidal ideation with intent requiring crisis intervention * Cognitive disorder due to general medical condit