Longitudinal characterization of electroencephalography features in consciousness recovery following severe traumatic brain injury: a case series study in male patients - 2025
Longitudinal characterization of electroencephalography features in consciousness recovery following severe traumatic brain injury: a case series study in male patients
De Koninck, Beatrice P.; Maschke, Charlotte; Briand, Marie-Michèleet al.
acute–subacute care; disorders of consciousness; EEG; severe traumatic brain injury; Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Neurology; Neurology (clinical); Psychiatry and Mental Health
Abstract :
[en] Crucial clinical decisions in the acute-to-subacute stages of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) are mostly based on neurological exams and behavioral assessments. Although electroencephalography (EEG)-derived indices of consciousness show prognostic potential, their effectiveness in tracking individual recovery over time remains unclear. This study characterizes the longitudinal recovery of consciousness following sTBI, tracking EEG spectral power, and aperiodic exponent markers, considering sex, etiology, and age. Four medically stable, non-sedated sTBI patients were recruited 7–26 days post-injury, based on etiology (sTBI), age (M=30 years, SD=1.41 years), lesion severity (diffuse axonal injury). Behavioral responsiveness was assessed daily using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), alongside 5-min resting-state EEG for 6 days, with an additional recording a week later. Changes in power spectral distribution and the aperiodic component were observed over time, even within similar diagnostic categories. The aperiodic component exhibited a similar improvement trajectory to behavioral responsiveness, with a progressive flattening of the EEG slope in two individuals who recovered consciousness. In contrast, individuals whose CRS-R category remained static showed inconsistent fluctuations in the aperiodic component over time. Improvements in CRS-R scores were accompanied by changes in absolute power for theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. However, the “ABCD” and Maximum Frequency Peak frameworks showed limitations and inconsistencies when compared to behavioral outcomes. This longitudinal within-subject design captured neurophysiological changes along patient-specific recovery trajectories, revealing substantial fluctuations within individual EEG markers, despite controlling for typical confounds like etiology, age, lesion severity, and sex. Combining spectral power and the aperiodic exponent may support the development of more dynamic and reliable markers to track changes in brain activity associated with consciousness recovery, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy, outcome prediction, and therapeutic interventions. Ethical approval for this study has been given by the Research Ethics Board of the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (Project ID 2021-2279).
Disciplines :
Neurology
Author, co-author :
De Koninck, Beatrice P. ; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada ; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada ; Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
Maschke, Charlotte; Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada ; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Briand, Marie-Michèle; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Montreal, Canada
Apinis-Deshaies, Amélie; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Brazeau, Daphnee; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada ; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada
GirardPepin, Rosalie ; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Martens, Géraldine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation ; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Williams, Virginie; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Arbour, Caroline; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Williamson, David; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Duclos, Catherine; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada ; Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Bernard, Francis; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Blain-Moraes, Stefanie; School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada ; Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
De Beaumont, Louis; Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal Research Center (CRHSCM), Montreal, Montreal, Canada ; Department of Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
Longitudinal characterization of electroencephalography features in consciousness recovery following severe traumatic brain injury: a case series study in male patients
Publication date :
2025
Journal title :
Neuroscience of Consciousness
ISSN :
2057-2107
Publisher :
Oxford University Press
Volume :
2025
Issue :
1
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funding text :
This study is funded by the New Frontiers in Research fund (NFRFE2021\u201300886). Doctoral training scholarship to BPDK is provided by the Fonds de recherche du Qu\u00E9bec-Sant\u00E9 (BF2-313707) and Chaire Fondation Caroline Durand en traumatologie aigue de l\u2019Universit\u00E9 de Montr\u00E9al.
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