Assessing Brain Processing Deficits Using Neuropsychological and Vision-Specific Tests for Concussion

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Verbal memory and visual processing involve overlapping brain regions.
• Assessing visual function's predictive power for verbal memory is crucial.
• Understanding concussion's impact on neurocognition is vital for athlete safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if visual function, specifically Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index, predicts verbal memory performance.
• To investigate if vision metrics (King-Devick, near point of convergence) and age can identify athletes with a history of concussion.

Main Methods:

• An observational cohort study included 25 collegiate ice hockey players.
• Hierarchical multiple regression analyzed the predictive capacity of visual and cognitive scores on verbal memory.
• Binomial logistic regression assessed if vision metrics and age predict concussion history.

Main Results:

• The Cognitive Efficacy Index significantly predicted verbal memory scores, explaining an additional 24.4% of variance.
• Visual Memory alone explained 41% of the variance in verbal memory.
• No individual predictors (age, King-Devick, near point of convergence) significantly identified athletes with a prior concussion history.

Conclusions:

• Baseline neurocognitive and vision data may not be comparable for athletes with concussion history over one year.
• Young athletes might visually overcompensate after a concussion.
• Prospective studies with larger samples are needed to validate objective concussion metrics.