Women exhibited changes only in primary motor cortex. The increases in this region  could be linked to alterations in excitatory synaptic activity in motor area and motor dysfunction. This could further be associated with a secondary response to injury.

Neurometabolic changes in Women

Men exhibited changes in DLPFC with the onset of, and sustained exposure to, collision events, with changes disappearing once exposure to collision events ceased. 

Neurometabolic changes in Men

Michigan State University

In collision-sport athletes, brain metabolism is negatively impacted throughout the course of a season due to mild head injuries even if a concussion is not known to have occurred. 

Neurometabolic Changes and Concussions

Bari, S., Svaldi, D.O., Jang, I. et al. Dependence on subconcussive impacts of brain metabolism in collision sport athletes: an MR spectroscopic study. Brain Imaging and Behavior 13, 735–749 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-018-9861-9

Dependence on subconcussive impacts of brain metabolism in collision sport athletes: an MR spectroscopic study

This suggests that collisions-sport athletes are combating cellular dysfunction in the absence of observable external symptoms. Furthermore, this may mean the threshold for brain injury is lower than what was once thought.

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