The Pentagon Channel's podcast program "Armed with Science" presented an interview with Dr. Thomas Meitzler, a scientist at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and Dr. Joy Hirsch, professor at Columbia University and director of the Program for Imaging and Cognitive Sciences. The doctors discussed a collaborative study to determine what areas of the brain are susceptible to damage for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients. The current collaboration between TARDEC and Columbia University involves a cooperative research agreement.

In the interview, host Dr. John Ohab noted that TBI is on the rise, particularly for military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan coming into contact with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). One of the problems with TBI is that it is often not immediately recognized by the injured soldier, who may be returned to duty without a proper medical diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Meitzler explained that the study was developed from prior research he and Dr. Hirsh had done with visual perception experiments, which examined how camouflage, paints, and colors are perceived. The doctors determined the science and technology of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) used in the previous research could be used in TBI studies.

Dr. Hirsch then stated that fMRI can be used to review the structure of the brain in detail, and also examine the parts of the brain engaged in different functions. People may be asked to do various cognitive tasks in the brain, and the researcher can study how the brain reacts. Functional imaging is relevant to TBI because the patients have symptoms but the physical evidence is not obvious through conventional diagnostic methods. An fMRI can help to understand the neurophysiology that underlies the behavior.

The proposed program would involve scanning high-risk soldiers before deployment as baseline information, and making a comparison scan after they return. The information would be stored on a "digital dog tag." In addition, the scientists may integrate some sensors in the armor or vehicle that record amount/location of blast, and correlate the amount of neurocircuitry damage. Information from the vehicle can be related to the neural damage of the patient. That can help strategize treatment depending on the type of blast and its magnitude. Ultimately, Dr. Meitzler said, the research can be used to help design vehicles and guide the therapy of the patient, which may be started earlier because of the detection through the fMRI scans.

Dr. Hirsch, whose program is the core imaging facility for all imaging research at Columbia, said that fMRIs offer many advantages to research including the extraordinarily high resolution of the brain, and less toxicity since contrasting agents are not used. The scans are noninvasive and involve activities including problem solving, sensory, language exercises, etc., to brain-map each individual and determine emotional or cognitive injury. The doctors say they hope to see exactly how the injury causes loss of integrity in those functions.

See and hear for yourself:
The podcast is available at: http://science.dodlive.mil/2010/02/03/live-webcast-2pm-et-scientists-developing-window-into-the-brain-for-traumatic-injury-diagnosis/

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