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Updated: May 6, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Effect of education and language on baseline concussion screening tests in professional baseball players
Nathaniel S Jones1, Kevin D Walter, Roger Caplinger
1Departments of *Family Medicine; and †Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois; ‡Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; §Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and ¶Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Objective:
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of sociocultural influences, specifically pertaining to language and education, on baseline neuropsychological concussion testing as obtained via immediate postconcussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT) of players from a professional baseball team.
Design:
A retrospective chart review.
Setting:
Baseline testing of a professional baseball organization.
Participants:
Four hundred five professional baseball players.
Independent Variables:
Age, languages spoken, hometown country location (United States/Canada vs overseas), and years of education.
Main Outcome Measures:
The 5 ImPACT composite scores (verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor speed, reaction time, impulse control) and ImPACT total symptom score from the initial baseline testing.
Results:
The result of t tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) when comparing native English to native Spanish speakers in many scores. Even when corrected for education, the significant differences (P < 0.05) remained in some scores.
Conclusions:
Sociocultural differences may result in differences in computer-based neuropsychological testing scores.
