Challenges and Research Opportunities for Integrating Quantitative Electroencephalography Into Sports Concussion Rehabilitation.

Although concussion management and return to play/learn decision making focuses on reducing symptoms, there is growing interest in objective physiological approaches to treatment. Clinical and technological advancements have aided concussion management; however, the scientific study of the neurophysiology of concussion has not translated into its standard of care. This expert commentary is motivated by novel clinical applications of electroencephalographic-based neurofeedback approaches (eg, quantitative electroencephalography [QEEG]) for treating traumatic brain injury and emerging research interest in its translation for treating concussion.

Post-concussion changes in the N200 and P300 ERPs are associated with cognitive symptoms and performance.

Purpose: To examine how post-concussion changes to the N200 and P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) are associated with cognitive symptoms and neurocognitive performance.

Methods: High-density electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during a Go/No-Go task from 16 young adults within one month after their concussion and 16 matched controls. Participants were also administered the Cognitive-Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) and self-reported concussion-like symptoms.

Electrophysiology reveals cognitive-linguistic alterations after concussion.

Language deficits and alterations to the N400 ERP are commonly reported in aphasia and moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), but have seldomly been investigated after mild TBI, such as concussion. In the present study, the N400 was recorded from young adults within 1-month after concussion and matched controls during a sentence processing task. The N400 recorded to semantically incongruent sentence-final words was significantly more negative and with a more anterior distribution in the concussion group than control group.

A Routine Electroencephalography Monitoring System for Automated Sports-Related Concussion Detection.

Cases of concussions in the United States keep increasing and are now up to 2 million to 3 million incidents per year. Although concussions are recoverable and usually not life-threatening, the degree and rate of recovery may vary depending on age, severity of the injury, and past concussion history. A subsequent concussion before full recovery may lead to more-severe brain damage and poorer outcomes.

Clinical Utility of Oculomotor and Electrophysiological Measures in Identifying Concussion History.

Objective: To examine whether oculomotor and electrophysiological measures improve the clinical performance of the typical concussion protocol for classifying collegiate athletes with a history of concussion.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: University Athletic Medicine and Research Facility.

Recommendations for Developing an EEG Laboratory at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution.

Given its relatively low cost and minimal required space, an EEG laboratory provides the most feasible human cognitive neuroscience technique to implement at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI). However, neuroscience programs at PUIs may be deterred from incorporating EEG methods into their research programs and/or classrooms due to limited funds and resources. This article provides recommended guidelines for faculty researchers looking to set up an EEG lab at their host PUIs with an emphasis on feasibility.

History of concussion impacts electrophysiological correlates of working memory.

Sports-related concussions occur in approximately 21% of college athletes with implications for long-term cognitive impairments in working memory. Working memory involves the capacity to maintain short-term information and integrate with higher-order cognitive processing for planning and behavior execution, critical skills for optimal cognitive and athletic performance. This study quantified working memory impairments in 36 American football college athletes (18-23years old) using event-related potentials (ERPs).

Long-Term Effects of Concussion on Electrophysiological Indices of Attention in Varsity College Athletes: An Event-Related Potential and Standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography Approach.

This study investigated the effects of a past concussion on electrophysiological indices of attention in college athletes. Forty-four varsity football athletes (22 with at least one past concussion) participated in three neuropsychological tests and a two-tone auditory oddball task while undergoing high-density event-related potential (ERP) recording. Athletes previously diagnosed with a concussion experienced their most recent injury approximately 4 years before testing.