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Perturbations in Risk/Reward Decision Making and Frontal Cortical Catecholamine Regulation Induced by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Perturbations in Risk/Reward Decision Making and Frontal Cortical Catecholamine Regulation Induced by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Christopher P Knapp, Eleni Papadopoulos, Jessica A Loweth, Ramesh Raghupathi, Stan B Floresco, Barry D Waterhouse and Rachel L Navarra
Behavioural brain research, p115002
16 Apr 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115002
PMID: 38636779
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
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https://rdw.rowan.edu/som_facpub/214View
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Abstract

repetitive injury prefrontal cortex catecholamine regulation decision making mild traumatic brain injury sex differences
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) disrupts cognitive processes that influence risk taking behavior. Little is known regarding the effects of repetitive mild injury (rmTBI) or whether these outcomes are sex specific. Risk/reward decision making is mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is densely innervated by catecholaminergic fibers. Aberrant PFC catecholamine activity has been documented following TBI and may underlie TBI-induced risky behavior. The present study characterized the effects of rmTBI on risk/reward decision making behavior and catecholamine transmitter regulatory proteins within the PFC. Rats were exposed to sham, single (smTBI), or three closed-head controlled cortical impact (CH-CCI) injuries and assessed for injury-induced effects on risk/reward decision making using a probabilistic discounting task (PDT). In the first week post-final surgery, mTBI increased risky choice preference. By the fourth week, males exhibited increased latencies to make risky choices following rmTBI, demonstrating a delayed effect on processing speed. When levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the norepinephrine reuptake transporter (NET) were measured within subregions of the PFC, females exhibited dramatic increases of TH levels within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) following smTBI. However, both males and females demonstrated reduced levels of OFC NET following rmTBI. These results indicate the OFC is susceptible to catecholamine instability after rmTBI and suggests that not all areas of the PFC contribute equally to TBI-induced imbalances. Overall, the CH-CCI model of rmTBI has revealed time-dependent and sex-specific changes in risk/reward decision making and catecholamine regulation following repetitive mild head injuries.

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5 citations in Web of Science
3 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Behavioral Sciences
Neurosciences
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