The Dynamics of concussion: Mapping Pathophysiology, Persistence, and recovery With causal-loop Diagramming

• Authors: Erin S. Kenzie, Portland State University; Elle L. Parks, Portland State University; Erin D. Bigler, Brigham Young University; David W Wright, Emory University; Miranda M. Lim, Oregon Health & Science University; James C. Chesnutt, Oregon Health & Science University; Gregory W. J. Hawryluk, University of Utah; Wayne Gordon, Icahn School of Medicine; Wayne Wakeland, Portland State University
• Journal Title: Frontiers in Neurology
• Volume: Volume 9
• Publisher: Frontiers Media | 2018-04-04, Pages 203-203
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2018.00203
• Subjects: Agriculture, Plant Pathology; Biology, Physiology; Biology, Neuroscience
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Clinical Neurology; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; concussion; traumatic brain injury; systems science; complexity; recovery; causal-loop diagram; models of injury; systems medicine; TRAUMATIC BRAIN-INJURY; MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER; DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY; DEFAULT MODE NETWORK; SYSTEMS SCIENCE; COMPLEX WORLD; RESTING-STATE; CONNECTIVITY; SYMPTOMS; MILITARY

Abstract

Despite increasing public awareness and a growing body of literature on the subject of concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, an urgent need still exists for reliable diagnostic measures, clinical care guidelines, and effective treatments for the condition. Complexity and heterogeneity complicate research efforts and indicate the need for innovative approaches to synthesize current knowledge in order to improve clinical outcomes. Methods from the interdisciplinary field of systems science, including models of complex systems, have been increasingly applied to biomedical applications and show promise for generating insight for traumatic brain injury. The current study uses causal-loop diagramming to visualize relationships between factors influencing the pathophysiology and recovery trajectories of concussive injury, including persistence of symptoms and deficits. The primary output is a series of preliminary systems maps detailing feedback loops, intrinsic dynamics, exogenous drivers, and hubs across several scales, from micro-level cellular processes to social influences. Key system features, such as the role of specific restorative feedback processes and cross-scale connections, are examined and discussed in the context of recovery trajectories. This systems approach integrates research findings across disciplines and allows components to be considered in relation to larger system influences, which enables the identification of research gaps, supports classification efforts, and provides a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication-all strides that would benefit diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in the clinic.