Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Despite being at higher risk for sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), reporting greater symptoms following injury, and having longer recovery trajectories, females continue to be understudied in brain injury research. For example, female athletes account for 43% of the collegiate athlete population, yet they have been severely underrepresented in the sport-related mTBI literature. Another largely neglected population at high risk for experiencing mTBI include homeless and precariously housed people, 82% of whom, report sustaining an mTBI and females in this population report an even greater number of injuries. Both groups represent unique populations with high incidence of sustaining mTBIs, engaging in risky substance use behaviour, and experiencing mental health disorders. MTBIs can have long-term effects on psychological health, increasing the risk for both substance use and mood problems. Evidence suggests that neural regions associated with risk-taking behaviour and emotion regulation difficulties may both be particularly vulnerable to injury. Disruptions of these networks as a result of brain trauma may affect one's ability to adequately use strategies to regulate emotional responses when experiencing anxiety or depression and in substance users, network alterations may indicate dysregulation of self-awareness and rumination processes, and suggest an "addiction vulnerable" neural state. My research will investigate the relationship between these factors in athlete and homeless or precariously housed individuals with an emphasis on examining sex differences. Neural underpinnings of these relationships will also be examined using functional imaging. This will allow clinicians to (1) more readily identify individuals at risk for substance use and mental health disorders, and (2) develop targeted interventions to reduce risk of mTBI and improve health outcomes. These developments are particularly critical for underserved and marginalized populations.