Locomotor deficits after traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study examining the influence of brain injury on spatial-temporal gaze behavior and gait deficits during rehabilitation.

Here, we will examine the relationship between spatial-temporal gaze behavior and impairments in gait/locomotion after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies have shown that TBI causes problems in cognitive factors such as attention, planning skills and speed of information processing as well as deficits in eye movements/oculomotor control and impairments in walking and balance. Despite the importance of visual guidance for walking, no information is available on the relationship between impairments in the control of vision/gaze parameters and deficits in walking/locomotion in adults or children with TBI. Similarly, the relationship between deficits in locomotion and imaging evidence of neural injury after TBI has not been examined. This study will examine these aspects across multiple cohorts of children/adolescents with mild, moderate and severe TBI, paying particular attention to visual guidance and gait behavior in situations of increased cognitive load. Walking is a crucial every-day motor-skill and locomotor capacity is a central element in gauging post-injury quality of life. Yet, much is lacking in our understanding of the different facets contributing to locomotion deficits after TBI. Better knowledge on the origin of gait deficits after TBI is required in order to be able to better target healthcare intervention during rehabilitation.

Keywords:Motor control, Gait/locomotion, Balance, Vision, Eye movements, Traumatic brain injury, Recovery, Rehabilitation, Functional and structural MRI

Disciplines:Orthopaedics, Surgery, Nursing, Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing