Applications of Resting State Functional MR Imaging to Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI includes a broad spectrum of injury severities and pathologies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both resting state (rs)and task, has been used often in research to study the effects of TBI. While rs-fMRI is not currently applicable in clinical diagnosis of TBI, computer aided tools are making this a possibility for the future. Specifically, graph theory is being used to study the change in networks after TBI. Machine learning methods allows researchers to build models capable of predicting injury severity and recovery trajectories. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has a much higher temporal resolution and can be used to supplement the rs-fMRI. There are multiple limitations to overcome and factors to consider before rs-fMRI can be used as a clinical tool. However, both rs-fMRI and rs-MEG show promise as tools to predict recovery trajectories and evaluate therapies.