Following a high-impact collision causing diffuse axonal injury, why does the brain's global metabolic rate often decrease despite increased local neuronal activity?

💡 Explanation

Diffuse axonal injury causes widespread mitochondrial dysfunction, thus limiting ATP production and decreasing the brain's global metabolic rate, because damaged axons struggle to maintain normal cellular function. Therefore, even with increased neuronal activity, energy supply is limited, rather than balanced by glial buffering or neurotransmitter efficiency.

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