Laugh and Crying Perception in Patients with Severe and Moderate TBI Using FFT Analysis

Abstract

Post-traumatic emotional disorder event is a major cause of slow rehabilitation worldwide. The present study investigates the effects of emotional sound stimulation at different groups of subjects with TBI. At the base of our research strategy, we had used a group with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). We collected three groups of patients: 45 healthy adults, 20 patients with severe TBI and 19 patients with moderate TBI. Neurophysiology trials aim was to determine the processes that accompany emotional changes within traumatic brain damage. We analysed emotional EEG response for crying and laughter in patients with severe TBI, patients with moderate TBI and healthy volunteers. We used FFT analyses to quantify highfrequency HRV and average heart rate. Our results showed that patient with TBI showed higher response to crying compared to laughter, accompanied by slow-wave activity in the right temporal area and higher heart rate variability.