Taotao Wu, PhD
Neurofunctional Markers of Concussion via Portable Neuroimaging
Abstract
Concussion affects millions annually but remains challenging to diagnose due to subtle or delayed symptoms and the limited sensitivity of conventional imaging. This project will develop task-evoked neurophysiological markers of concussion by combining a state-of-the-art, portable brain imaging tool (time-domain diffuse optical tomography functional near-infrared spectroscopy) with advanced computational analyses. We will record whole-head brain activity during neurobehavioral tasks in patients with recent concussion and matched healthy controls, then use dynamic connectivity methods to identify brain “fingerprints” that distinguish injured from healthy individuals. These signatures will be linked to symptom burden and validated using large retrospective datasets with artificial intelligence approaches. Together, this work will establish portable, objective, and clinically meaningful biomarkers of concussion, laying the foundation for precision diagnosis and targeted therapies.
This support empowers early-career scientists like me to pursue bold, innovative ideas. It accelerates our work to develop personalized, noninvasive approaches to improve diagnosis and recovery in brain disorders such as concussion.
