title: Frontal white matter damage impairs response inhibition in children following traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Inhibition, the ability to suppress inappropriate cognitions or behaviors, can be measured using computer tasks and questionnaires. Inhibition depends on the frontal cortex, but the role of the underlying white matter (WM) is unclear. We assessed the specific impact of frontal WM damage on inhibition in 29 children with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (15 with and 14 without frontal WM damage), 21 children with orthopedic injury, and 29 population controls. We used the Stop Signal Task to measure response inhibition, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function to assess everyday inhibition, and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging to identify lesions. Children with frontal WM damage had impaired response inhibition compared with all other groups and poorer everyday inhibition than the orthopedic injury group. Frontal WM lesions most often affected the superior frontal gyrus. These results provide evidence for the critical role of frontal WM in inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipszyc
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Gerri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hanten
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schachar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Brain lesions; Frontal lobe; Impulsiveness; Response inhibition; Traumatic brain injury; White matter