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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Longitudinal changes in frontopolar cortex activity during postural tasks in collegiate ice hockey athletes
Samuel R Zeff1,2, Douglas N Martini2
1California State University, Long Beach, Department of Kinesiology, Long Beach, California, United States.
Significance:
The effects of repetitive head impacts through contact sport participation remain poorly understood. Longitudinal assessments of their influence on neurophysiological and cognitive-motor changes can provide insights into brain function and athlete health.
Aim:
We aimed to quantify the effects of repetitive head impact exposure from a season of ice hockey participation on cortical neurophysiology during single- and dual-task standing balance tasks.
Approach:
We compared frontopolar oxyhemoglobin concentration changes longitudinally during standing balance tasks using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Similarly, we compared motor performance from postural assessments, quantified through inertial measurement units. To quantify cognitive performance, serial-7 subtraction task accuracy was recorded.
Results:
Following a season of contact sport, increased frontopolar cortex activity was observed during both single- and dual-task postural tasks. In addition, longitudinal increases in transverse and coronal sway velocities were observed. Despite these changes in neurophysiology and postural control, cognitive task performance (serial-7 subtraction) remained unchanged from pre- to postseason.
Conclusions:
Contact sport participation alters cortical neurophysiology and cognitive-motor performance, with more pronounced longitudinal changes in frontopolar prefrontal cortex activity during weight-bearing cognitive tasks.
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