Relationship Between Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Findings and Cognition Following Pediatric TBI: A Meta-Analytic Review

• Published in: Developmental neuropsychology Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 176 - 200
• Main Authors: Roberts, Rachel M., Mathias, Jane L., Rose, Stephen E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Psychology Press 02.04.2016
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Brain - pathology; Brain Injuries - pathology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Child; Cognition - physiology; Cognition Disorders - pathology; Cognitive psychology; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Medical imaging; Meta-analysis; Original; Pediatrics; Severity of Illness Index; Traumatic brain injury; White Matter
• ISSN: 8756-5641; 1532-6942
• DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2016.1186167

This study meta-analyzed research examining relationships between diffusion tensor imaging and cognition following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Data from 14 studies that correlated fractional anisotropy (FA) or apparent diffusion coefficient/mean diffusivity with cognition were analyzed. Short-term (<4 weeks post-TBI) findings were inconsistent, but, in the medium to long term, FA values for numerous large white matter tracts and the whole brain were related to cognition. However, the analyses were limited by the diversity of brain regions and cognitive outcomes that have been examined; all in relatively small samples. Moreover, additional data are needed to investigate the impact of age and injury severity on these findings.