Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a traumatic brain injury that is caused by an external force?

A characteristic of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by an external force is that it often leads to an altered state of consciousness, which can manifest as loss of consciousness, confusion, or a decreased level of alertness. Thus, the absence of an altered state of consciousness does not align with the typical presentations of a TBI.

Loss of consciousness, memory loss, and changes in behavior are common symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries. These symptoms occur due to the impact and injury to the brain structure, which can affect cognitive function, behavior, and memory encoding or retrieval. Therefore, a key characteristic distinguishing a TBI from other types of injuries is indeed the presence of an altered state of consciousness, making the absence of such an altered state incorrect in identifying characteristics of TBI.