<p>Often in a concussion, the initial impact will lead the brain to release the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate at the areas of damage, which causes a rapid depolarization of the local neurons. After this, the axonal sodium/potassium pump goes into overdrive to rebalance ion/voltage imbalance, more ATP (energy) is required, there is a jump in glucose metabolism, and extracellular swelling starts, reducing blood flow. Then the increase in metabolism with reduced blood flow causes an energy crisis in the cell. Cell is unable to carry out regular activity due to lack of energy and often entire cell groups will go dormant to preserve themselves. This is one cause of a low voltage EEG. </p>
<p>It is very likely that, after a career of having hard knocks to the skull, a client’s brain will form scar tissue at the sites of the accident (after initially experiencing a state of inflammation). If the inflammation is not able to properly heal the brain—which is its’ function—then the brain will ultimately learn to handle the inflammation by altering cellular structures to form tougher tissues, which would consequentially prevent blood perfusion at the sites of the injury and prevent the slower brainwaves of delta and theta from being read from the surface. Among the symptoms that are commonly reported in patients with TBI and mild TBI include impairment in attention, memory, psychomotor speed, and executive functions.</p>

<p>Some of the symptoms the client may experience as a result of his head injury include: </p>
<ul><li>Difficulty figuring out how to do new things</li>
<li>Disorganization</li>
<li>Difficulty completing activities in a reasonable amount of time</li>
<li>Slower learning than is normal</li>
<li>Becoming easily angered or frustrated</li>
<li>Difficulty with word finding</li>
<li>Extreme sensitivity to light and/or sounds</li>
<li>Difficulty with concentration or focus</li>
<li>Easily distracted</li>
<li>Spacing out</li>
<li>Headaches</li>
<li>Forgetfulness</li>
<li>Impulsivity, impatience, risk taking, rudeness, social impropriety</li>
<li>Fatigue</li>
<li>Difficulty with balance, dizziness, clumsiness and even incontinence</li>
<li>Problems reading</li>
<li>Confusion with puzzles, directions, and telling left from right</li>
<li>Difficulty understanding others</li>
<li>Difficulty switching from one task to another, especially when unexpected.</li>
<li>Getting lost easily</li>
<li>Feeling fidgety</li>
<li>Emotional difficulties (depression, fear, nightmares)</li>
</ul>
<p>
Groups with a delta deficit include cocaine addicts, ADD, subtypes of OCD, and schizophrenia—all of whom have problems with frontal cortical regulation of attention or impulsive behavior, as well as the processing of extraneous stimuli.&nbsp; There is evidence suggesting a significant functional relationship of the delta rhythm to the mesotelencephalic dopamine (DA) projection.&nbsp; 
</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="@@PLUGINFILE@@/mesotelencephalic.png" alt="Mesotelencephalic Dopamine" width="520" height="478" class="img-responsive atto_image_button_middle"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Figure : The Mesotelencaphalic Dopamine System<br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><p lang="en-US" align="LEFT">
<span lang="en-US">The
estimated location of the major site for delta generation in midline
and the anterior frontal cortex corresponds with the location of the
main cortical terminal field of the mesotelencephalic DA projection.</span>&nbsp;

</p><br></p>