The Impact of Prior Concussions on Studying

Bobo Au-Yeung

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: MA.FORENSIC-PSY

Faculty Research Mentor: Christine Doyle  

Abstract:

AbstractConcussions are a common traumatic brain injury that affects many people, including children and students. Individuals who sustain concussions often receive treatment and return to their regular activities shortly after onset. While most symptoms subside within 3 weeks, some symptoms linger for years, a condition referred to as post-concussion syndrome. The current literature on post-concussion syndrome focuses primarily on athlete populations or motor dysfunction, with little emphasis on academic performance in populations with shorter concussive histories. Participants are separated into 2 groups: those who have a history of concussions and those who do not. This allows for better analysis of the impacts of previous concussions on cognitive functions most pertinent to academic performance, namely working memory and focus. Approximately 60 participants will be recruited through social media, and the study will be conducted online through Qualtrics. The purpose of this study is to gather information on how participants perceive their ability to focus and recall information through a self-report questionnaire, as well as performance on a short word-list recall task following a distractor to test working memory.