INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #11 Self-Reported Concussion History is Unrelated to Cortical Structure in Collegiate Athletes Heather Bouchard, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Michelle Barbot, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Kate Higgins, Department of Athletics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Maital Neta, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Cary Savage, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Douglas Schultz, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult) Keyword 1: neuroimaging: structural Keyword 2: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury Keyword 3: head injury (closed) Objective: While there remains a growing concern regarding the effects of concussion on collegiate athletes, research is inconclusive if there is the relationship between concussion history and structural brain abnormalities. This is particularly evident in research exploring the volume and thickness of cortical regions. Recent studies suggest that limited concussion history is not associated with cognitive deficits, and some studies with larger sample sizes have similarly suggested that limited concussion history does not lead to significant changes in cortical brain volume or thickness. Therefore, using a large sample of active collegiate athletes, we hypothesized that brain structure would not differ based on self-reported concussion history. Participants and Methods: We collected T1 structural MRI scans from 263 collegiate football players and 22 collegiate women’s soccer players prior to the start of their first athletic season at the university. A semi-structured interview as well as an individual self-report questionnaire assessed athletes’ prior concussion history. Athletes also completed a computerized cognitive assessment prior to starting their athletic participation. Cortical volume and thickness were estimated from 7 structural networks. We compared cortical volume and thickness between those who reported a concussion history and those who did not. Bayesian statistics were also used to identify support for the null hypothesis. Lastly, correlations were performed to identify relationships between cortical volume, cortical thickness, and four composite scores of cognitive performance (i.e., Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Visual-Motor Speed, and Reaction Time), in the combined group of athletes with and without a history of concussion. Results: Bayesian statistics revealed support for the null hypothesis: cortical volume and cortical thickness do not differ for collegiate athletes who self-report a history of 1 or more concussions compared to those who do not report a concussion history. Across all athletes, the cortical volume of the visual network was positively correlated with verbal memory, visual memory and visual-motor speed performance and negatively correlated with reaction time. In addition, the volume of the dorsal attention network was positively correlated with reaction time. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that there are no differences in cortical volume or cortical thickness in active, collegiate athletes regardless of their self-reported concussion history. This suggests either recovery of cortical changes after head injury or no changes to cortical structure after a concussion. Cognitive domains, regardless of concussion history, were related to volumetric differences in the visual network and dorsal attention network. Future studies that rely on a longitudinal design to capture brain cortical structure prior to and following a concussion may inform our knowledge of possible acute and long-term effects concussion.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #11

Self-Reported Concussion History is Unrelated to Cortical Structure in Collegiate Athletes

Heather Bouchard, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
Michelle Barbot, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
Kate Higgins, Department of Athletics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
Maital Neta, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
Cary Savage, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States
Douglas Schultz, Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, United States

Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult)

Keyword 1: neuroimaging: structural
Keyword 2: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury
Keyword 3: head injury (closed)

Objective:

While there remains a growing concern regarding the effects of concussion on collegiate athletes, research is inconclusive if there is the relationship between concussion history and structural brain abnormalities. This is particularly evident in research exploring the volume and thickness of cortical regions. Recent studies suggest that limited concussion history is not associated with cognitive deficits, and some studies with larger sample sizes have similarly suggested that limited concussion history does not lead to significant changes in cortical brain volume or thickness. Therefore, using a large sample of active collegiate athletes, we hypothesized that brain structure would not differ based on self-reported concussion history.

Participants and Methods:

We collected T1 structural MRI scans from 263 collegiate football players and 22 collegiate women’s soccer players prior to the start of their first athletic season at the university. A semi-structured interview as well as an individual self-report questionnaire assessed athletes’ prior concussion history. Athletes also completed a computerized cognitive assessment prior to starting their athletic participation. Cortical volume and thickness were estimated from 7 structural networks. We compared cortical volume and thickness between those who reported a concussion history and those who did not. Bayesian statistics were also used to identify support for the null hypothesis. Lastly, correlations were performed to identify relationships between cortical volume, cortical thickness, and four composite scores of cognitive performance (i.e., Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Visual-Motor Speed, and Reaction Time), in the combined group of athletes with and without a history of concussion.

Results:

Bayesian statistics revealed support for the null hypothesis: cortical volume and cortical thickness do not differ for collegiate athletes who self-report a history of 1 or more concussions compared to those who do not report a concussion history. Across all athletes, the cortical volume of the visual network was positively correlated with verbal memory, visual memory and visual-motor speed performance and negatively correlated with reaction time. In addition, the volume of the dorsal attention network was positively correlated with reaction time.

Conclusions:

Our findings support the hypothesis that there are no differences in cortical volume or cortical thickness in active, collegiate athletes regardless of their self-reported concussion history. This suggests either recovery of cortical changes after head injury or no changes to cortical structure after a concussion. Cognitive domains, regardless of concussion history, were related to volumetric differences in the visual network and dorsal attention network. Future studies that rely on a longitudinal design to capture brain cortical structure prior to and following a concussion may inform our knowledge of possible acute and long-term effects concussion.