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 electro-physiological 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.