Post date: Nov 9, 2017 8:39:22 AM
Christopher Koch and Kennedy Hobert
Abstract: ImPACT is a commonly used neurocognitive test for concussion assessment. The four domains measured in the test include memory, visual-motor, impulse control, and reaction time. One benefit of the test is that it can be administered in a group setting. However, group settings can lead to greater distraction and poorer performance. This problem may be particularly evident among younger examinees. In this study, four testing conditions were compared using middle school athletes. There was a total of 193 participants (116 males) with a mean age of 12.13 (SD = 2.73). The ImPACT test was administered under normal testing conditions (n=50), while wearing noise cancelling headphones (n=47),.with dividers creating cubicles (n=62), and with both headphones and cubicles (n=34). There were significant testing effects for verbal memory (F(3, 189)=3.41, p<.05), visual memory (F(3, 189)=14.52, p<.001), visual-motor (F(3, 189)=14.52, p<.001), and reaction time (F(3, 189)=7.16, p<.001). Memory and visual-motor scores were lower and reaction times were longer in the headphone condition. These results suggest that the testing environment may have little influence on ImPACT scores, except when attempting to minimize auditory distractions alone.
Poster at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society (Vancouver, 2017)