Author(s)

L. A. Zhavoronkova^1*, O. A. Maksakova², S. I. Moraresku^1,3, E. M. Kushnir¹, E. L. Pogosbekyan^1,2, A. A. Indeeva^1,3

¹Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
²N. N. Burdenko National Medical Research Center of Neurosurgery, Moscow, Russia.
³Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.

Objective: Purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral and brain activity impairments in patients after moderate traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in comparison with the normal ranges while dual-tasks performing. We would like to evaluate dual-tasking as diagnostic and rehabilitation tool and to test hypothesis of brain aging after mTBI. Material and Methods: Electroencephalographic (EEG), stabilographic and clinical study was performed in 11 patients (mean age 28.8 ± 8.4 years) for up to 1 - 12 months after a mTBI in comparison with 17 healthy subjects (26.7 ± 5.1 years). All the participants performed two motor and two cognitive tasks presented separately, and simultaneously (dual-tasking). Results: Clinical examination revealed predominantly cognitive deficit in mTBI patients with intact postural control. EEG data demonstrated coherence decrease for slow (delta-theta) rhythms in frontal-temporal areas predominantly for left hemisphere during cognitive tasks performance. In contrast, EEG coherence for slow spectral bands increased in the same areas in healthy volunteers. EEG coherence increased for fast spectral bands—alpha2 and beta, predominantly in right hemisphere while both healthy adults and patients performed motor components of dual tasks. Rehabilitation course with dual tasks, led to a predominant reduction in cognitive deficits, and EEG coherence increases at the frontal-temporal areas of the left hemisphere. Conclusions: Dual-tasks may be used as diagnostic tool in patients after mTBI. This approach demonstrates predominant cognitive deficit, and left hemispheric dysfunction in patients similar to elderly persons and support the hypothesis of brain aging after TBI. Pilot studies also suggested rehabilitation effect of dual-tasking in mTBI patients.

Traumatic Brain Injury, Cognitive and Motor Functions, Dual-Tasks, EEG, Stabilography, Brain Aging

Zhavoronkova, L. , Maksakova, O. , Moraresku, S. , Kushnir, E. , Pogosbekyan, E. and Indeeva, A. (2020) Dual-Tasking as Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Tool in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 10, 237-256. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2020.106015.