Measurement of changes in cerebrospinal fluid pulsation after traumatic brain injury using echo‐planar imaging‐based functional MRI

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern worldwide, with a high incidence and a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. The alteration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics after TBI is a well‐known phenomenon; however, the underlying mechanisms and their implications for cognitive function are not fully understood. In this study, we propose a new approach to studying the alteration of CSF dynamics in TBI patients. Our approach involves using conventional echo‐planar imaging‐based functional MRI with no additional scan, allowing for simultaneous assessment of functional CSF dynamics and blood oxygen level‐dependent–based functional brain activities. We utilized two previously suggested indices of (i) CSFpulse, and (ii) correlation between global brain activity and CSF inflow. Using CSFpulse, we demonstrated a significant decrease in CSF pulsation following TBI (p