Neuroplasticity in TBI and Schizophrenia

Study Summary

This proposal will examine measures of neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to alter its function or structure in response to changes in the environment or novel experiences) in Veterans with schizophrenia or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both conditions are associated with impaired cognition (for example, attention, memory, learning), which is in turn associated with poor community functioning and integration. However, the two disorders differ in their origins: schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder appearing usually in late adolescence while TBI is an acquired disorder as the result of an injury to the head. Understanding of the root causes of complex cognitive impairments associated with these disorders remains limited. Neuroplasticity is a fundamental brain process that underlies cognitive functioning and may give insight into the causes of cognitive dysfunction in TBI and schizophrenia. Neuroplasticity will be measured using electroencephalography (EEG) by placing small electrodes on the scalp that record the brain's electrical activity. Participants will listen to simple auditory tones and view simple visual patterns while their EEG is recorded. Additionally, participants will have measures of cognition and clinical interviews for diagnosis of a disorder as well as any current levels of symptoms.

Primary Outcome

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures the brain's activity while viewing simple visual stimuli or listening to simple auditory tones. MMN is measured while listening to a series of auditory tones, and is derived as the difference in responses to common stimuli minus rare stimuli (e.g., stimuli presented 90% of the time minus stimuli presented 10% of the time). A more negative value indicates stronger MMN, a more positive value indicates a stronger Repetition Positivity (RP) to the Standard stimu

Interventions

• OTHER Electroencephalography