The pathophysiology associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) includes neurometabolic and cytoskeletal changes that have been shown to impair structural and functional connectivity. Evidence that persistent neuropsychological impairments post injury are linked to structural and functional connectivity changes is increasing. However, to date the relationship between connectivity changes, heterogeneity of persistent symptoms and recovery post mTBI has been poorly characterised. Recent innovations in neuroimaging provide new ways of exploring connectivity changes post mTBI. Namely, combined transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) offers several advantages over traditional approaches for studying connectivity changes post TBI. Its ability to perturb neural function in a controlled manner allows for measurement of causal interactions or effective connectivity between brain regions. We review the current literature assessing structural and functional connectivity following mTBI and outline the rationale for the use of TMS-EEG as an ideal tool for investigating the neural substrates of connectivity dysfunction and reorganisation post mTBI. The diagnostic, prognostic and potential therapeutic implications will also be explored.

与轻度脑外伤（mTBI）相关的病理生理学包括神经代谢和细胞骨架变化，这些变化已显示出会损害结构和功能的连通性。越来越多的证据表明，损伤后持续的神经心理学障碍与结构和功能连接性改变有关。然而，迄今为止，连接性改变，持续症状的异质性和mTBI术后恢复之间的关系尚未得到很好的描述。神经影像学的最新创新提供了探索mTBI之后连接性变化的新方法。即，经颅磁刺激和脑电图（TMS-EEG）的结合提供了优于传统方法的更多优势，可用于研究TBI之后的连通性变化。它以受控方式扰乱神经功能的能力允许测量因果相互作用或大脑区域之间的有效连通性。我们回顾了目前评估mTBI之后的结构和功能连接性的文献，并概述了使用TMS-EEG作为研究mTBI后连接功能障碍和重组的神经基质的理想工具的基本原理。还将探讨其诊断，预后和潜在的治疗意义。