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6mo ago

Concussions Found to Slow Key Brain Activity in High School Football Players

New research reveals that concussions disrupt aperiodic brain activity, impacting cognitive functions like memory and concentration in young athletes.

A football and helmet on the grass of a football pitch, with an image of the brain overlayed. Concussion gained by young football players has been linked with a variety of negative brain health outcomes later in life, in previous research.
Aperiodic activity is typically treated as ‘background noise’ on brain scans, but recent studies have shown that this background noise may play a key role in how the brain functions. Credit: Neuroscience News

Overview

  • A study of 91 high school football players found that concussions slow aperiodic brain activity, a signal often dismissed as background noise.
  • Aperiodic activity is linked to cortical excitability, which is critical for learning, memory, decision-making, and other cognitive functions.
  • Slowed aperiodic activity correlated with worse post-concussion symptoms, including impaired concentration, memory, and test performance.
  • Findings suggest that monitoring aperiodic brain activity could improve concussion diagnosis, tracking, and recovery strategies.
  • Researchers emphasize the importance of protective measures in youth contact sports and ensuring full recovery before returning to play.