• Emilie Chamard, Maryse Lassonde, and Hugo Théoret.
• Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada.
• Prog Neurol Surg. 2014 Jan 1;28:75-85.

AbstractSport-related concussions affect millions of athletes every year, but they generally present no anatomic alterations when examined using conventional magnetic resonance imaging or a computed tomography scan. Because the damage occurring after a head injury seems to be more functional than structural, these techniques are unable to detect subtle alterations. The absence of detectable structural alterations using traditional neuroimaging methods, the presence of persistent symptoms in some athletes, and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases emphasize the importance of assessing the impacts of a head injury with alternative neuroimaging techniques. Electrophysiological methods, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and diffusion tensor imaging are useful techniques that are sensitive to the effects of a brain trauma, which provide complementary information to allow a more complete understanding of the multiple pathophysiological processes involved in concussive events. This report summarizes recent data using neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques to better understand the acute and chronic effects of sport-related concussions.© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

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