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Neuropsychological deficits following concussion
1Transport Accident Commission Rehabilitation Centre, Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia.
Brain Injury
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Mild concussive injuries in Australian Rules Football players can cause detectable neuropsychological deficits, even after initial neurological symptoms resolve. These deficits were observed in tests measuring cognitive processing and reaction time.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neuropsychology
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Background:
- Concussion is a term applied to head injuries of varying severity.
- Most studies focus on severe concussions requiring hospital observation, often from motor vehicle accidents.
- Milder concussive injuries from contact sports are underrepresented in hospital-based research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if neuropsychological sequelae are detectable after mild concussive injuries.
- To investigate cognitive and reaction time deficits in athletes sustaining mild concussions.
- To assess the impact of mild concussions in Australian Rules Football players.
Main Methods:
- Baseline neuropsychological testing (PASAT, DSST, Four-Choice Reaction Time) was conducted on 130 Australian Rules Football players.
- Ten players who sustained concussions were re-tested at 5 days post-injury.
- A control group of age-matched umpires was assessed on two occasions.
Main Results:
- Poorer performance was observed on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) following concussion.
- Increased decision time (DT) was noted in concussed players compared to baseline and controls.
- Neuropsychological deficits were detectable even after the resolution of acute neurological symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Mild concussive injuries, even those sustained in sports, can lead to measurable neuropsychological deficits.
- Neuropsychological testing can identify deficits following mild concussion that may not be apparent through clinical neurological examination alone.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing cognitive function in the recovery process from sports-related concussions.