title: Physiological emotional under-arousal in individuals with mild head injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the potential emotional sequelae following self-reported mild head injury (MHI; e.g. 'altered state of consciousness' [ASC]) in university students with a particular focus on arousal status and responsivity to experimental manipulation of arousal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design (n = 91) was used to examine arousal status (self-reported and physiological indices) and response to manipulated arousal (i.e. induced psychosocial stress/activation; reduced activation/relaxation) between persons who acknowledged prior MHI and persons with no-MHI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  University students who self-reported MHI were physiologically under-aroused and less responsive to stressors (both laboratory and environmental) compared to their no-MHI cohort. Those with reported loss of consciousness demonstrated the most attenuated emotional arousal responses (i.e. flattened electrodermal responsivity) relative to those with only a reported ASC, followed by those with no-MHI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The under-arousal in traumatic brain injury has been hypothesized to be associated with ventromedial prefrontal cortex disruption. This under-arousal may be mirrored in persons who self-report experiencing subtle head trauma. Students who reported MHI may be less able to physiologically respond and/or cognitively appraise stressful experiences as compared to their no-MHI cohort; and experience subtle persistent consequences despite the subtle nature of the reported head trauma.
authors: Neuropsychology Cognitive Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology and.
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Baker
authors: Dawn E
authors: DE
authors: Good
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires