Default mode network anatomy and function is linked to pediatric concussion recovery
Kartik K. Iyer, Andrew Zalesky, Karen M. Barlow et al. preprint
In children recovering from mild traumatic brain injury, sleep disturbances and fatigue are linked to reduced grey matter volume and weaker functional connectivity in two key brain regions: the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex, both part of the default mode network. Combining structural and functional brain measurements from these regions accurately predicted which children would have persistent post-concussion symptoms at follow-up, with an area under the curve of 0.86. The findings suggest that the default mode network's structure and function underlie sleep-related problems after concussion and carry prognostic information for recovery.