Objective

In this pilot study, we investigated the impact of a sport-related concussion (SRC) on the ability to form cognitive maps, mental representations of the environment that are critical for spatial orientation and navigation.

Participants

We recruited 18 adolescent hockey players suffering from a SRC, and 19 age, sex and handedness-matched hockey players with no history of concussion.

Main measure

We asked participants to perform the Spatial Configuration Task (SCT), a computerized tool used to quantitatively measure the ability of the individuals to form cognitive maps.

Results

We found that athletes with a concussion performed significantly worse than controls on the SCT (F(1,34) = 5.82, p =.021, $\hat{d}$ = −0.72), confirming a negative effect of a SRC on the ability to form cognitive maps. We found no significant difference between groups in average response time, and no significant correlation between participants' performance at the SCT and reported symptoms of concussion as rated on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5).

Conclusions

Consistent with the integrity of extended neural networks required for effective spatial orientation and navigation, the findings of our pilot study provide preliminary evidence suggesting that a SRC may affect the ability to familiarize with a spatial surrounding and orient within it.

中文翻译：

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一项初步研究评估了脑震荡对形成青少年曲棍球运动员空间定向的认知图的能力的影响。

目的

在这项初步研究中，我们调查了与运动有关的脑震荡（SRC）对形成认知图，对空间定位和导航至关重要的环境心理表示的能力的影响。

参加者

我们招募了18名患有SRC的青少年曲棍球运动员，以及19名年龄，性别和与习惯相匹配的曲棍球运动员，没有脑震荡史。

主要措施

我们要求参与者执行空间配置任务（SCT），这是一种计算机工具，用于定量测量个人形成认知图的能力。

结果

我们发现发生脑震荡的运动员在SCT上的表现明显比对照组差（F（1,34）= 5.82，p = .021，$\hat{d}$= -0.72），证实了SRC对形成认知图谱能力的负面影响。我们发现两组之间的平均响应时间无显着差异，参与者在SCT上的表现与运动震荡评估工具（SCAT5）所报告的脑震荡症状之间也无显着相关性。

结论

与有效的空间定位和导航所需的扩展神经网络的完整性一致，我们的先期研究结果提供了初步证据，表明SRC可能会影响其熟悉空间周围环境和方向的能力。