Neural underpinnings of the slowness of information processing in patients with traumatic brain injury: insights from tract-based spatial statistics

Slowness of information processing (SIP) is frequently reported after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies point toward a pivotal role of white matter damage on speed of information processing. However, little is known about the more comprehensive and ecological assessment of SIP in TBI. Here, we combined an ecological assessment of SIP with the use of tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) on individuals' fractional anisotropy (FA) maps. Twenty-six moderate-to-severe patients with TBI (21 males and 5 females) participated in this study: 10 individuals were classified as not having SIP (SIP-) and 16 were classified as having SIP (SIP +). SIP + showed lower FA in bilateral anterior thalamic radiation, corticospinal tract, cingulum, and forceps, as well as in bilateral inferior fronto-occipital, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi and uncinate fasciculus. Overall, this result is consistent with and expands previous reports on information processing speed to a more comprehensive and ecological perspective on SIP in TBI.

Automated summary

Slowness of information processing (SIP) is commonly observed after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous research has highlighted the importance of white matter damage in SIP, but there is limited knowledge about the comprehensive and ecological assessment of SIP in TBI. In this study, a combination of ecological assessment and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to examine the fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of individuals. Results showed that TBI patients with SIP had lower FA values in various white matter regions, providing a more comprehensive and ecological perspective on SIP in TBI.