INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 01 Program Schedule 02/14/2024 02:30 pm - 03:45 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 01: Cognitive, Psychotherapeutic, and Psychosocial Intervention/Rehabilitation Final Abstract #7 Testing the Effects of Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) on Cognitive and Motor Function in NCAA American Football Players: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Pilot Study Whitney Allen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Brett Mortensen, Athletics Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Margaret Hancock, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Leah Talbert, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Paula Johnson, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States Lawrence Carr, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States Lance Davidson, Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Benjamin Christensen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Ammon Driggs, Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Carter Allen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Erika Shore, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Addison Eberhard, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Scott Baldwin, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Elisabeth Wilde, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States Spencer Leibel, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States David Tate, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States Michael Larson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States Category: Acquired Brain Injury (TBI/Cerebrovascular Injury and Disease - Adult) Keyword 1: cognitive functioning Objective: Repetitive head acceleration events experienced during athletic training and competition can potentially affect an athlete’s cognitive abilities. There are limited empirically supported treatments to counter the possible cognitive decline from repetitive head acceleration events in contact sports like American football. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), also known as low-level light or laser therapy, is an emerging possible preventative measure against repetitive head injuries. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tPBM on cognitive and motor abilities throughout a football season among Division I NCAA athletes. We hypothesized that while both the tPBM and sham groups would start with similar cognitive scores, by season's end, the tPBM group would maintain better cognitive function, whereas the sham group would show a decline. Participants and Methods: 40 healthy, non-injured, NCAA Division I male American football student-athletes were recruited for participation, with 35 completing the 18-week intervention over the course of the football season (18 players randomized to tPBM [M_age: 21.6 +/- 1.5 years] and 17 players randomized to sham control [M_Age: 21.9 +/- 2.0 years]). Athletes from both groups utilized the Vielight NeuroGamma system and wore either the tPBM device (810 nM light pulsing at 40-Hz) or a visually identical SHAM headset for 20 minutes, three times weekly. We assessed cognitive functions using the C3 Logix System (which includes Trails A & B, Digit Symbol, and simple and decision reaction time tests) and the Conners Continuous Performance Task, Third Edition (CPT-3). Grip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer. Assessments took place both prior to the football season and after the final game. Results: There were no significant differences between groups for treatment adherence (PBM [M_treatment 38.8 +/- 7.6] & SHAM [M_treatment: 34.9 +/- 12.2]). We used latent difference score analysis to test for group differences in change scores between assessments. There were no significant between-group effects for cognitive or grip strength measures (all p > .05). Due to the pilot/proof of concept nature of the study and small sample size, we also compared the pattern of results between groups. For more intricate visual search and switching tasks (Trails B, CPT-3 correct response speed, and CPT-3 response speed accuracy), outcomes favored tPBM over sham. In contrast, simple response time (simple RT), basic psychomotor speed (Trails A), and inhibition tasks on the CPT-3 yielded results that favored sham over tPBM. Conclusions: Overall, the current study presents variable findings for cognitive and motor function. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, there was a noticeable improvement in grip strength and visual search and switching measures of processing speed in tPBM participants compared to sham; however, simple response time and measures of inhibition favored the sham group. The current study's findings show some promise but highlight the variability in outcomes and the need for better-powered studies. Notably, results are in a healthy, non-injured group of athletes, so future research in those with pathology is also needed.

Poster

02/14/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 01: Cognitive, Psychotherapeutic, and Psychosocial Intervention/Rehabilitation

Final Abstract #7

Testing the Effects of Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) on Cognitive and Motor Function in NCAA American Football Players: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Pilot Study

Whitney Allen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Brett Mortensen, Athletics Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Margaret Hancock, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Leah Talbert, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Paula Johnson, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States
Lawrence Carr, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States
Lance Davidson, Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Benjamin Christensen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Ammon Driggs, Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Carter Allen, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Erika Shore, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Addison Eberhard, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Scott Baldwin, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States
Elisabeth Wilde, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States
Spencer Leibel, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States
David Tate, Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine & George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, United States
Michael Larson, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, United States

Category: Acquired Brain Injury (TBI/Cerebrovascular Injury and Disease - Adult)

Keyword 1: cognitive functioning

Objective:

Repetitive head acceleration events experienced during athletic training and competition can potentially affect an athlete’s cognitive abilities. There are limited empirically supported treatments to counter the possible cognitive decline from repetitive head acceleration events in contact sports like American football. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), also known as low-level light or laser therapy, is an emerging possible preventative measure against repetitive head injuries. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tPBM on cognitive and motor abilities throughout a football season among Division I NCAA athletes. We hypothesized that while both the tPBM and sham groups would start with similar cognitive scores, by season's end, the tPBM group would maintain better cognitive function, whereas the sham group would show a decline.

Participants and Methods:

40 healthy, non-injured, NCAA Division I male American football student-athletes were recruited for participation, with 35 completing the 18-week intervention over the course of the football season (18 players randomized to tPBM [M_age: 21.6 +/- 1.5 years] and 17 players randomized to sham control [M_Age: 21.9 +/- 2.0 years]). Athletes from both groups utilized the Vielight NeuroGamma system and wore either the tPBM device (810 nM light pulsing at 40-Hz) or a visually identical SHAM headset for 20 minutes, three times weekly. We assessed cognitive functions using the C3 Logix System (which includes Trails A & B, Digit Symbol, and simple and decision reaction time tests) and the Conners Continuous Performance Task, Third Edition (CPT-3). Grip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer. Assessments took place both prior to the football season and after the final game.

Results:

There were no significant differences between groups for treatment adherence (PBM [M_treatment 38.8 +/- 7.6] & SHAM [M_treatment: 34.9 +/- 12.2]). We used latent difference score analysis to test for group differences in change scores between assessments. There were no significant between-group effects for cognitive or grip strength measures (all p > .05). Due to the pilot/proof of concept nature of the study and small sample size, we also compared the pattern of results between groups. For more intricate visual search and switching tasks (Trails B, CPT-3 correct response speed, and CPT-3 response speed accuracy), outcomes favored tPBM over sham. In contrast, simple response time (simple RT), basic psychomotor speed (Trails A), and inhibition tasks on the CPT-3 yielded results that favored sham over tPBM.

Conclusions:

Overall, the current study presents variable findings for cognitive and motor function. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, there was a noticeable improvement in grip strength and visual search and switching measures of processing speed in tPBM participants compared to sham; however, simple response time and measures of inhibition favored the sham group. The current study's findings show some promise but highlight the variability in outcomes and the need for better-powered studies. Notably, results are in a healthy, non-injured group of athletes, so future research in those with pathology is also needed.