In this study, we have reported a correlation between structural brain changes and electroencephalography (EEG) in response to tactile stimulation in ten comatose patients after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Structural morphometry showed a decrease in whole-brain cortical thickness, cortical gray matter volume, and subcortical structures in ten comatose patients compared to fifteen healthy controls. The observed decrease in gray matter volume indicated brain atrophy in coma patients induced by TBI. In resting-state EEG, the power of slow-wave activity was significantly higher (2–6 Hz), and the power of alpha and beta rhythms was lower in coma patients than in controls. During tactile stimulation, coma patients’ theta rhythm power significantly decreased compared to that in the resting state. This decrease was not observed in the control group and correlated positively with better coma outcome and the volume of whole-brain gray matter, the right putamen, and the insula. It correlated negatively with the volume of damaged brain tissue. During tactile stimulation, an increase in beta rhythm power correlated with the thickness of patients’ somatosensory cortex. Our results showed that slow-wave desynchronization, as a nonspecific response to tactile stimulation, may serve as a sensitive index of coma outcome and morphometric changes after brain injury.

中文翻译：

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触觉刺激过程中的大脑振荡活动与完整区域的皮质厚度相关，并预测创伤后昏迷患者的结果

在这项研究中，我们已经报告了十名昏迷严重创伤性脑损伤（TBI）患者的触觉刺激后，结构性脑部变化与脑电图（EEG）之间的相关性。结构形态计量学显示，与15个健康对照相比，十名昏迷患者的全脑皮质厚度，皮质灰质体积和皮质下结构减少。观察到的灰质体积减少表明由TBI诱发的昏迷患者脑萎缩。在静止状态的脑电图中，昏迷患者的慢波活动能力显着较高（2-6 Hz），而α和β节律的能力低于对照组。在触觉刺激期间，昏迷患者的θ节律能力与静止状态相比明显降低。在对照组中未观察到这种减少，并且与更好的昏迷预后以及全脑灰质，右壳核和绝缘膜的数量呈正相关。它与受损脑组织的体积负相关。在触觉刺激期间，β节律能力的增加与患者体感皮质的厚度有关。我们的结果表明，慢波失步作为对触觉刺激的非特异性反应，可能是脑损伤后昏迷预后和形态变化的敏感指标。β节律功能的增加与患者体感皮质的厚度有关。我们的结果表明，慢波失步作为对触觉刺激的非特异性反应，可能是脑损伤后昏迷预后和形态变化的敏感指标。β节律功能的增加与患者体感皮质的厚度有关。我们的结果表明，慢波失步作为对触觉刺激的非特异性反应，可能是脑损伤后昏迷预后和形态变化的敏感指标。