Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the network organization of the human connectome, impairing neural communication in distinct ways. Our research on Vietnam War veterans with penetrating head injuries demonstrates how focal damage to specific networks leads to deficits in cognitive control, social problem solving, and emotional intelligence. In contrast, sports-related concussions may cause diffuse microstructural damage that weakens global network connectivity, compromising the brain’s ability to integrate information across distributed networks. Our research investigates how different profiles of injury alter the structural organization and functional dynamics of the connectome. By understanding how these injuries disrupt local and global network communication, we gain new insight into their diverse effects on cognitive, social, and emotional functions.

An equally important challenge is understanding the process of recovery. Neuroplasticity enables functional reorganization, forming new pathways to compensate for injury. But what principles guide this dynamic and adaptive process: In what respects can brain networks modify their topology in response to trauma? And why do some individuals recover fully while others face lasting challenges? What factors, such as injury severity, frequency, age, sex, genetics, and the brain’s intrinsic network architecture, shape an individual’s ability to adapt and recover?

Our research investigates how TBI disrupts and reorganizes the connectome over time, employing neuroimaging and computational modeling methods to map the evolution of injury and recovery. By studying NCAA Division I athletes, English and Welsh rugby players, and military service members, we aim to identify patterns of vulnerability and resilience, guiding the design of improved rehabilitation strategies and safer return-to-play and return-to-duty protocols.