Comparing cognitive ability of high-risk amateur sportsmen and non-sportsmen using the Metrisquare Cognitive Testbattery for Concussion (MCTC).
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2021-07-01
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en
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Abstract
Background. Most cases of sports-related concussion are underreported, while concussive
injury can induce irreversible brain injury on the long-term. Test batteries that can support
neuropsychological professionals in determining the effects of concussive injury are limited.
Therefore, the Metrisquare Cognitive Testbattery for Concussion (MCTC) is created which
captures cognitive functions that are affected due to concussive injury. During this study,
scores on the MCTC of non-sportsmen and high-risk (ex-) amateur sportsmen were analysed.
Methods. Participants were gathered by purposively contacting individuals within the
researcher’s network. The MCTC was used to assess attention, executive functioning
(including inhibition), working memory, delayed memory, and motor ability.
Results. A total of n = 142 participants were included of which n = 54 participants (38%)
were classified as amateur sportsmen. Findings proved no differences between the scores of
non-sportsmen and amateur sportsmen concerning 11 of the 13 subtests from the MCTC.
Amateur sportsmen did significantly recall more spans (p = .001) in the Digit Span Test.
Non-sportsmen made significantly less mistakes (p = .002) in the Sustained Attention Task.
Conclusion. The MCTC showed to be successfully insensitive for differences between
groups participating in high-risk amateur sports and groups that did not participate in these
sports. The small differences on the two subtests found between amateur sportsmen and non
sportsmen might be explained by other factors but cannot pursue unnoticed in future studies.
Hence, the implementation of the MCTC is promising and could support neuropsychological
professionals in determining the effects of sports-related concussive injury in the future.
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen