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Updated: May 30, 2026
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A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Psychometric data for the NFL neuropsychological test battery
Mark R Lovell1, Gary S Solomon
1Department of Orthopedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Applied Neuropsychology
|August 18, 2011
Summary
This study analyzed baseline neuropsychological test data from 513 National Football League athletes to establish normative data for concussion assessment. The findings provide a benchmark for understanding cognitive function in professional football players.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Concussion research in the National Football League (NFL) is crucial for player safety.
- A comprehensive league-wide study was conducted between 1996 and 2001.
- Understanding baseline cognitive function is essential for diagnosing and managing mild traumatic brain injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a factor analysis of baseline neuropsychological data.
- To provide normative psychometric data for multiple baseline tests.
- To establish a benchmark for cognitive function in NFL athletes.
Main Methods:
- Voluntary participation of nearly 1,000 athletes in a neuropsychological testing program.
- Utilized traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests for baseline assessment.
- Included the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised, Trail-Making Tests (A and B), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis performed on baseline data from 513 athletes who completed all tests.
- Normative psychometric data generated for the employed baseline tests.
- Established a dataset for future research on cognitive changes related to concussion.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully generated normative data for key neuropsychological tests in an NFL population.
- These normative data serve as a critical reference point for concussion research and clinical assessment.
- The findings contribute to a better understanding of mild traumatic brain injury in athletes.
