Date of Award

Spring 2024

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Amy E Ramage

Second Advisor

Donald A Robin

Third Advisor

Joanna Glory

Abstract

It is estimated that approximately 15% of individuals who suffer a concussion experience cognitive impairments that can persist and cause long-term consequences (Post-Concussion Syndrome, 2023). This study builds on previous research on concussion, sustained attention, and inhibitory control to further characterize the mechanisms at work in post-concussion cognitive dysfunction (Moore et al., 2014; Ramage & Robin, 2019; Robin et al., 1999). Sustained attention was measured with a psychomotor vigilance task (Starry Night); inhibitory control was measured with the Flanker and Dimensional Change Card Sort tasks. The current study aims were developed to fill a gap in understanding regarding the potential interactions between disinhibition and disordered attention in young adults with concussion through foundational applications of Kahneman’s limited capacity model of attention and effort (1973), signal detection theory, and Friedman and Miyake’s (2004) proposed frameworks for types of inhibitory control. This study is a retrospective repeated methods design that uses between- and within- groups comparisons to evaluate the effect of group and performance over time on a sustained attention task. The interaction of group and time with performance (measured by accuracy and reaction time) on several tasks of attention and inhibitory control was also examined. Given the small sample size and potential for ceiling effects on the cognitive measures, results were not statistically significant. The reasoning for these results may empower future researchers to develop more sensitive tasks for evaluation of cognitive impairments present in the studied population. The nature of concussion results in relatively mild, but persistently devastating effects that are only identified with tasks that truly challenge cognition. While these tasks are not commonly used in clinical settings, this data points to the value of using tasks of increased complexity for deeper evaluation of a person’s deficits, since these deficits will undoubtedly arise in functional settings.

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