Long-term working memory deficits after concussion: Electrophysiological evidence

Abstract

High functioning young adults with a remote concussion may have inefficient recruitment of processing resources for target identification, evident by the attenuated P300. The negative correlations between response time and P300 amplitude suggest that the time necessary to accurately respond to targets increases as the efficiency of allocating processing resources decreases during highly demanding working memory tasks.

Electrophysiological impact of multiple concussions in asymptomatic athletes: A re-analysis based on alpha activity during a visual-spatial attention task

“…Although time elapsed since last concussion or post-concussion symptoms at the time of testing did not correlate in this report, studies that have examined cognitive function in relation with event-related electrophysiology (e.g., (De Beaumont, et al, 2011;Ozen, et al, 2013) have found clinically-relevant decline as opposed to progressive recovery. This is an important reason for believing that electrophysiological anomalies in young concussed athletes may reveal key information on the neurobiological substrates of the chronic installation of brain function damage after concussion.…”

“…According to a model proposed by Molfese (2015), neural networks reorganize after concussion by developing new local and distal networks to compensate for reductions of efficiency caused by brain damage. Ledwidge and Molfese (2016) provided evidence that concussed athletes generate atypical brain patterns by recruiting additional neuronal resources relative to controls in such a way that allows concussed athletes to achieve similar performance levels (McAllister, et al, 2001;McDonald, Saykin, & McAllister, 2012;Ozen, Itier, Preston, & Fernandes, 2013). When applied to current study findings, the recruitment of additional brain resources that may have taken place over several months postconcussion could explain normal behavioral performance levels in multi-concussed athletes.…”

Long-Term Effects of Concussion on Electrophysiological Indices of Attention in Varsity College Athletes: An Event-Related Potential and Standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography Approach

“…Similar to other ERP research, participants self-reported the number of diagnosed concussions they experienced before testing. 22,28,[52][53][54] Athletes also reported the date of their most recent concussion and if any resulted in loss of consciousness or difficulty remembering events. In the case that participants did not complete a recent case interview at the host institution, past concussion history was determined from case history reports on their most recent ImPACT evaluation (ImPACT Applications, Pittsburgh, PA).…”

The Effect of Prior Concussions on Cognitive Performance in Recreational College Athletes

“…Based on prior research in individuals with mTBI [28][29][30][31][32][33][34], it was predicted that athletes with a history of concussion would be less accurate, slower to respond and make a larger number of perseverative errors on the working memory task when compared to the control group. While the differences were not statistically significant, athletes with a prior history of concussion were slightly less accurate, made a marginally higher number of perseverative errors and evinced somewhat slower overall reaction times than their non-concussed controls.…”