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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
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Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
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Concussion history is negatively associated with visual-motor force complexity: evidence for persistent effects on
Adam C Raikes1,2, Sydney Y Schaefer3, Breanna E Studenka2
1a Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience Lab , The University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA.
Brain Injury
|February 28, 2018
Summary
Repeated concussions reduce visual-motor tracking force complexity. This suggests cumulative changes in how individuals process visual information after injury, impacting behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Concussion recovery monitoring needs cost-effective methods.
- Physiologic complexity can assess visual-motor integration post-concussion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how the number of prior concussions affects visual-motor tracking force complexity.
- To investigate the influence of concussion history on fine motor control and visual processing.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-five individuals with concussion history and 15 controls performed an isometric visual-motor tracking task.
- Finger force data, including root mean square error (RMSE) and multi-scale complexity, were analyzed.
- Regressions assessed the relationship between concussion history and force complexity metrics.
Main Results:
- Force complexity linearly decreased with an increased number of concussions.
- Males exhibited greater overall force complexity and higher 4-8 Hz average power.
- Reduced 8-12 Hz average power was observed with prior loss of consciousness (LOC) and more concussions.
Conclusions:
- Increasing concussion history is linked to reduced visual-motor tracking force complexity.
- Gender and history of LOC significantly influence these force complexity changes.
- Findings suggest cumulative alterations in visual information processing and behavioral guidance after concussion.
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