Citation

Gold DM, Rizzo JR, Lee YSC, Childs A, Hudson TE, Martone J, Matsuzawa YK, Fraser F, Ricker JH, Dai W, Selesnick I, Balcer LJ, Galetta SL, Rucker JC. Brain Sci. 2021; 11(12): e1571.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Switzerland Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI) AG)

DOI

10.3390/brainsci11121571

PMID

34942873

Abstract

(1) Background: The King-Devick (KD) rapid number naming test is sensitive for concussion diagnosis, with increased test time from baseline as the outcome measure. Eye tracking during KD performance in concussed individuals shows an association between inter-saccadic interval (ISI) (the time between saccades) prolongation and prolonged testing time. This pilot study retrospectively assesses the relation between ISI prolongation during KD testing and cognitive performance in persistently-symptomatic individuals post-concussion. (2) Results: Fourteen participants (median age 34 years; 6 women) with prior neuropsychological assessment and KD testing with eye tracking were included. KD test times (72.6 ± 20.7 s) and median ISI (379.1 ± 199.1 msec) were prolonged compared to published normative values. Greater ISI prolongation was associated with lower scores for processing speed (WAIS-IV Coding, r = 0.72, p = 0.0017), attention/working memory (Trails Making A, r = -0.65, p = 0.006) (Digit Span Forward, r = 0.57, p = -0.017) (Digit Span Backward, r= -0.55, p = 0.021) (Digit Span Total, r = -0.74, p = 0.001), and executive function (Stroop Color Word Interference, r = -0.8, p = 0.0003). (3) Conclusions: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that cognitive dysfunction may be associated with prolonged ISI and KD test times in concussion.

Language: en

Keywords

concussion; cognitive dysfunction; inter-saccadic interval; King-Devick; rapid automatized naming tasks; saccades