Eye Movements Detect Differential Change after Participation in Male Collegiate Collision versus Non-Collision Sports

Abstract

Although neuroimaging studies of collision (COLL) sport athletes demonstrate alterations in brain structure and function from pre-to post-season, reliable tools to detect behavioral/cognitive change relevant to functional networks associated with participation in collision sports are lacking. This study evaluated the use of eye-movement testing to detect change in cognitive and sensorimotor processing among male club collegiate athletes after one season of participation in collision sports of variable exposure. We predicted that COLL (High Dose [hockey], n = 8; Low Dose [rugby], n = 9) would demonstrate longer reaction times (antisaccade and memory-guided saccade [MGS] latencies), increased inhibitory errors (antisaccade error rate), and poorer spatial working memory (MGS spatial accuracy) at post-season, relative to pre-season, whereas non-collision collegiate athletes (NON-COLL; n = 17) would remain stable. We also predicted that whereas eye-movement performance would detect pre-to post-season change, ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test) performance would remain stable. Our data showed that NON-COLL had shorter (improved performance) post-versus preseason antisaccade and MGS latencies, whereas COLL groups showed stable, longer, or attenuated reduction in latency ( ps £ 0.001). Groups did not differ in antisaccade error rate. On the MGS task, NON-COLL demonstrated improved spatial accuracy over time, whereas COLL groups showed reduced spatial accuracy ( p < 0.05, uncorrected). No differential change was observed on ImPACT. This study provides preliminary evidence for eyemovement testing as a sensitive marker of subtle changes in attentional control and working memory resulting from participation in sports with varying levels of subconcussive exposure.

Beyond symptomatic diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury

“…These players showed brain function impairments comparable to or exceeding those of teammates diagnosed with concussions [ 1 ]. Other studies on athletes playing soccer, rugby and hockey have yielded similar results [ 11 , 12 ]. The mTBI evaluations administered at the sideline in sport or in a standard doctor's visit are not sensitive enough to detect low severity injuries.…”

“…New methods can effectively detect subtle symptoms, biomarkers or brain changes following an injurious exposure. Eye-movement testing is emerging as a way to detect changes in attention and working memory resulting from low severity exposures [ 11 ]. A product using fluid biomarkers in samples of blood serum to check for brain injury has already been approved.…”

Subtle impairments of perceptual-motor function and well-being are detectable among military cadets and college athletes with self-reported history of concussion

“…Variability in oculomotor performance has previously been identified as an important indicator of impairment among adults with a history of concussion (97), as well as an association with head acceleration events sustained by high school ice hockey players over the course of a season (57). Decreased oculomotor efficiency from pre-to post-season among athletes participating in collision sports has also been reported (98). Because visual perception is dependent on oculomotor control, regular assessment of the ability to consistency and rapidly detect task-relevant environmental stimuli may be an important consideration for management of injury risk among collision sport athletes.…”