Cerebral Hemodynamic Influences in Task-Related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Acute Sport-Related Concussion: A Review

Abstract: One of the challenges of managing athletes with sport-related concussion (SRC) is guiding them to a safe return to play. A potential biomarker for use in the clinical assessment of recovery is the analysis of brain activation patterns during task-related functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). However, fMRI studies have provided conflicting results regarding what is pathological. An element that can contribute to this disagreement are hemodynamic impairments of the brain that follow a concussion. A functional neuroimaging technique based on the optical properties of brain tissue—called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)—can be used to evaluate SRC athletes, partially taking into consideration these brain hemodynamic impairments. However, so far, fNIRS has not been extensively used in concussion. In this critical review, there is a description of the main fMRI results involving the neocortex in acutely concussed patients, the influences of hemodynamic impairments on fMRI and fNIRS and the advantages and disadvantages of fNIRS to limit this influence.


Keywords: task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging; BOLD signal; fMRI; near-infrared spectroscopy; NIRS; diffuse optical tomography; sport-related concussion; gradual return to play; brain hemodynamic; cerebral blood flow.