1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com
Evidence on the consequences of sports-related concussions is
accumulating. There is also growing concern that balance may be
affected. This study assessed the long-term effects of concussions
college students. As expected, those with a history of concussion
generally did more poorly on the tests. Time since the concussion
and balance and performance on the continuous performance task
were negatively related. There are major implications for the
caution that should be exercised in youth athletics.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Participants:
• 140 college students were recruited from the participant pool
• 65/140 participants have had a concussion
Measurements:
1. Questionnaire
• Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire
• “During which sport and estimate the time of injury”
2. Digit Span Task (Weschler, 1945)
• Assessment concentration of working memory
• Participants recalled a string of numbers in reverse order
3. Operational Span Task
• Assessment of working memory with numbers and letters
• Math problems were to be solved in addition to recall each
letter presented at the end of the sequence
4. Processing Speed Task
• Assessment of processing speed specifically reaction time with
computer software
• Identifying the target and non-target in correspondence to the
reaction time
5. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus using Wii Balance Board
• Three tasks within Wii Fit Plus measured balance
• Ultimate Balance Test (50/50 Weight Distribution)
• Single Leg Test (Left and Right Stability)
• Stillness Test (Center of Pressure)
MATERIALS & METHODS
• Working Memory Test
• Digit Span Task
• T (139) = -.079, P > .05
• Operational Span Task
• T (139) = -.079, P > .05
• Target Reaction Test
• Processing Speed Task
• F(2,138) = .253, p = 0.616.
• F(2,138) = .156, p = 0.694.
• Balance Test
• T (139) = -.510, P > .05
RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS
This study provided crucial results making it imperative not only
for the field of sports psychology, but for the care of concussions
in general. The data derived from this study presents the effects of
concussion on balance and memory. The significant data
ultimately supports the view that concussions in high school
students can have long-term consequences. This is consistent with
the current work of McCauley et al. (2014) and Benedict et al.,
(2015). This field of research is increasing due to the rise in public
awareness about the effects of brain injuries.
REFERENCES
Benedict, P. A., Baner, N. V., Harrold, G. K., Moehringer, N., Hasanaj, L. Serrano, L.
P., Sproul, M., Pagnotta, G., Cardone, D. C., Flanagan, S. R., Rucker, J., Galetta, S. L.,
Balcer, L. J. (2015). Gender and age predict outcomes of cognitive, balance and vision
testing in a multidisciplinary concussion center, Journal of the Neurological Sciences,
353 (1) 111-115.
Gil-Gómez, J., Lloréns, R., Alcañiz, M., & Colomer, C. (2011). Effectiveness of a Wii
balance board-based system (eBaViR) for balance rehabilitation: A pilot randomized
clinical trial in patients with acquired brain injury. Journal Of Neuroengineering &
Rehabilitation (JNER), 8(1), 30-39.
McCrae, M. (2001). Standardized mental status testing on the sideline after sport-related
concussion. Journal of Athletic Training. 36(3): 274-279
Wechsler, D. (1945). A standardized memory scale for clinical use. The Journal of
Psychology. 19(1), 87-95.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers would like to thank Dr. Victoria Kazmerski for making
this study possible. We would also like to thank the Undergraduate
Research Program for funding this study.
• Awareness of the consequences of sports-related concussions
has increased dramatically; many colleges and high schools
now routinely assess their players before the season and after
a head injury.
• Most current tests assess cognitive functions such as memory
and speed of performance. However, there is growing concern
that other functions, such as balance may be affected (Gil-
Gomez, Gonzales, Alcaniz, Noe, & Colomer, 2011).
• Research has shown that men and women of older age
experience both more concussion symptoms and have a
higher perceived level of severity, with women having a
higher level of perceived symptoms.
• It was also found that older participants had a higher (worse)
test times on the King – Devick test (Benedict et al., 2015).
• Younger individuals who experience a concussion often
experience fewer symptoms and have a lower perception of
severity of their injury (Benedict et al., 2015).
• This study addressed these concerns by assessing the long-
term effects of concussions on memory and balance.
• Previous research shows that following a concussion, one will
be deficient in memory, balance and reaction time (McCrae,
2014).
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. We hypothesized that participants who had history of
concussion would score lower on the memory and balance
tests when compared to the control group.
2. Participants who had experienced a concussion more
recently would show greater deficiencies than those whose
concussion occurred further in the past.
Penn State Behrend, School of Humanities and Social Sciences – Psychology
Tyler Uber, Kieu Nguyen, Ben Magliocca, & Megan Dunlap
(Dr. Victoria Kazmerski)
The Long-Term Effects of Concussion on Memory and Balance
3.54
3.56
3.53
3.535
3.54
3.545
3.55
3.555
3.56
3.565
Concentration Score
MeanDifference
Concussion Non-Concussion
44.16
59.35
5.37 3.82
45.64
59.84
4.65 3.44
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Absolute Score Load Score Math Score Accuracy Score
MEANDIFFERENCE
Concussion
Non-Concussion
0.6504
0.6505
0.65034
0.65036
0.65038
0.6504
0.65042
0.65044
0.65046
0.65048
0.6505
0.65052
Single Leg Test
MeanDifference
Concussion
Non-Concussion
0.5852
0.5963
0.578
0.58
0.582
0.584
0.586
0.588
0.59
0.592
0.594
0.596
0.598
Stillness Test
MeanDifference
Concussion
Non-Concussion
20.07
21.19
19.4
19.6
19.8
20
20.2
20.4
20.6
20.8
21
21.2
21.4
Ultimate Balance Test
MeanDifference
Concussion
Non-Concussion
• T (139) = -.005, P > .05
• T (139) = -.323, P > .05
0.879
0.869
0.978 0.977
0.8
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.9
0.92
0.94
0.96
0.98
1
Concussion Non-Concussion
MeanDifference
Accuracy
Condition 1
Condition 2
442.821
438.805
416.135
411.589
395
400
405
410
415
420
425
430
435
440
445
450
Concussion Non-Concussion
MeanDifference
Reaction Time
Condition 1
Condition 2