title: Longitudinal changes in mathematical abilities and white matter following paediatric mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with acute and long-term mathematical difficulties. Little is known about the recovery of these impairments in children with mild TBI (mTBI) and their underlying pathophysiology, such as white matter abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective longitudinal study followed the recovery of mathematical abilities and white matter in children with mTBI from the sub-acute (1 month post-injury) to chronic stage (6-8 months post-injury) of recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty children with mTBI and 20 matched controls completed mathematics tests. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) metrics of white matter pathways corpus callosum (CC), superior and longitudinal fasciculi were examined with DTI-tractography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mathematical difficulties and white matter abnormalities in the CC observed shortly after the injury resolved after 6-8 months of recovery. Children with mTBI continued to show working memory deficits. Longitudinal DTI data suggest continued maturation of the CC in controls, but little maturation of the damaged CC in children with mTBI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with mTBI recovered in terms of mathematical abilities and white matter. These children continued to show working memory deficits, which might interfere with learning at school.
authors.affiliation: a Parenting and Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium .
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Beek
authors.affiliation: a Parenting and Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium .|b Research Group ExpORL, Department of Neurosciences , and.
authors.forename: Jolijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanderauwera
authors.affiliation: a Parenting and Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium .
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghesquière
authors.affiliation: c Department of Development and Regeneration , Biomedical Sciences Group, University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagae
authors.affiliation: a Parenting and Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium .
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Smedt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Children; diffuse axonal injury; education; mild brain injury; traumatic brain injury