Tracking Functional Recovery Following Concussion Using Cognitive-Motor Integration

This research examines cognitivemotor integration (CMI) (thinking and moving) during eyehand coordination, a skill commonly required in sport. This study examines CMI in varsity athletes during their returntosport protocol following concussion. Participants were tested on two novel visuomotor transformation tasks using a computer touchsensitive tablet attached to a second external touchpad. Tasks consisted of a standard interaction condition, and a plane change and reversal condition, in which perception and action were decoupled, therefore requiring CMI. We observed that these athletes showed performance impairments at the time they were cleared to return to their sport based on current protocols. We found a lack of improvement compared to that of control athletes measured at the same time points. As well, some athletes showed deficits as late as three months following injury. These data suggest that more work needs to be done in order to better assess and understand the underlying effects of concussion.