Sport-related concussion and sensory function in young adults.

CONTEXT

The long-term implications of concussive injuries for brain and cognitive health represent a growing concern in the public consciousness. As such, identifying measures sensitive to the subtle yet persistent effects of concussive injuries is warranted.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how concussion sustained early in life influences visual processing in young adults. We predicted that young adults with a history of concussion would show decreased sensory processing, as noted by a reduction in P1 event-related potential component amplitude.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-six adults (18 with a history of concussion, 18 controls) between the ages of 20 and 28 years completed a pattern-reversal visual evoked potential task while event-related potentials were recorded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The groups did not differ in any demographic variables (all P values > .05), yet those with a concussive history exhibited reduced P1 amplitude compared with the control participants (P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that concussion history has a negative effect on visual processing in young adults. Further, upper-level neurocognitive deficits associated with concussion may, in part, result from less efficient downstream sensory capture.