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Feasibility of Virtual Reality for Assessment of Neurocognitive, Executive, and Motor Functions in Concussion

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Concussions in Athletics

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Abstract

The purpose of the research presented in this chapter is to investigate if virtual reality (VR) neurocognitive, executive, and motor function assessment tools are susceptible to practice and fatigue effects similar to those currently used in a clinical practice. Fifteen athletically active and neurologically normal Penn State students participated in a VR “practice effect” study. Another 15 Penn State football players participated in an “effect of fatigue” study on neurocognitive, balance, and executive functions. Subjects performed VR tests on several occasions. The statistical analysis was conducted to examine the VR measures as a function of testing session (practice effect) and physical fatigue (prior to and after full contact practices). The number and type of the full contacts during the practices were assessed via a specially developed observational chart. There are several major findings of interest. First, all subjects reported the “sense of presence” and “significant mental effort” while performing the VR tests. Second, neither effect of testing day (p > 0.05) nor effect of VR testing modality (p > 0.05) was revealed by ANOVA. Third, physical fatigue did not influence the VR measures in the majority of football players under study (p > 0.05). However, there was a reduction in several VR performance measures in football players who sustained prior concussive injuries. The findings show that VR testing modalities implemented in this study and aimed to evaluate neurocognitive (spatial memory, attention), motor (balance), and executive functions may be used as a complementary tool in a clinical practice. VR testing modalities under laboratory conditions are easily transferable into field conditions, and can potentially be used as the side-line evaluation of subjects at risk for concussion.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by NIH R01 grant: “Identification of Athletes at Risk for Traumatic Brain Injury.” The authors would like to thank George Salvaterra, Katie Finelli, and Gregory Miskinis for their contribution to subjects’ recruitment and data collection for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Penn State - Department of Kinesiology & Hershey Medical College, University Park, PA, USA

    Semyon M. Slobounov Ph.D. (Professor of Kinesiology & Neurosurgery, Director of Center for Sports Concussion Research and Services)

  2. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Wayne J. Sebastianelli

  3. Departments of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Penn State Hershey, Bone and Joint Institute, State College, PA, 16803, USA

    Wayne J. Sebastianelli

  4. Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, 267 Rec Building, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA

    Karl M. Newell

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  1. Semyon M. Slobounov Ph.D.
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  2. Wayne J. Sebastianelli
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  3. Karl M. Newell
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Correspondence to Semyon M. Slobounov Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor, Director of Center for Sports Concussion Research and Services, Penn State - Hershey Medical College, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Semyon M. Slobounov

  2. Kalenak Professor in Orthopaedics, Director of Athletic Medicine, Penn State - Hershey Medical College, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Wayne J. Sebastianelli

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Slobounov, S.M., Sebastianelli, W.J., Newell, K.M. (2014). Feasibility of Virtual Reality for Assessment of Neurocognitive, Executive, and Motor Functions in Concussion. In: Slobounov, S., Sebastianelli, W. (eds) Concussions in Athletics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0295-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0295-8_4

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