Why children with concussion get painful sensitivity to light
The trigeminal nociceptive-pain pathway in pediatric mTBI: peripheral and central contributions to photophobia
Researchers will compare nerve imaging, sensory tests, and brain scans in people who had mild traumatic brain injury to find what causes painful light sensitivity after concussion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138743 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has had a concussion and is bothered by light, the team will look at the nerves around the eye and the brain pathways that trigger pain. They will use painless sensory testing, high-resolution corneal nerve imaging, and brain scans that show wiring and activity in response to light. The study will compare children with concussion to people without concussion to look for objective signs. These are diagnostic and imaging visits rather than a treatment you would receive as part of the study.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents who have had a mild traumatic brain injury and now experience painful sensitivity to light are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: People without a history of concussion, those whose light sensitivity stems from an unrelated eye disease, or anyone seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide an objective marker to help diagnose concussion-related light pain and guide better care for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier, smaller studies have reported corneal nerve changes and altered brain activity after concussion, but combining corneal imaging, sensory testing, and brain scans in children is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moulton, Eric Alan — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Moulton, Eric Alan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.