Posttraumatic stress symptomatology rather than mild traumatic brain injury is related to atypical early neural processing during cognitive control.

Question: We examined cognitive control among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury and assessed the effects on neural markers related to early perceptual processing or later conflict monitoring. Findings: Avoidance and Dysphoria PTSD symptom domains were associated with early perceptual and attentional evoked brain responses, while mild traumatic brain injury severity failed to be related to neural responses during cognitive control. Importance: The study highlights the importance of psychological consequences of trauma for basic brain processes, even in the presence of mild brain injury, and can serve to shape effective clinical interventions. Next Steps: Future research may benefit from targeting brain processes related to early perception and attention to improve cognition among veterans with PTSD, including veterans with a history of mild brain injury.