Intraindividual cognitive variability in sports-related concussion: Implications for motivation and neurological vulnerability
Open Access
- Author:
- Rabinowitz, Amanda
- Graduate Program:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 09, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Peter Andrew Arnett, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Richard Alan Carlson, Committee Member
Frank Gerard Hillary, Committee Member
Lisa Michelle Kopp, Committee Member - Keywords:
- concussion
TBI
variability
motivation
effort
neuropsychological testing - Abstract:
- The present thesis provides four publication-style empirical research papers that, taken as a whole, represent a study of intraindividual cross-domain cognitive variability in college athletes before and after sports-related head injury. Specifically, these papers examine the role of motivation and neurological vulnerability to injury as contributors to inconsistency in college athletes’ cognitive test performance. Paper 1 establishes an evidence-based criterion for dividing athletes into two groups following concussion—those experiencing neuropsychological impairment (impaired) and those who are not experiencing significant neuropsychological impairment (unimpaired). Paper 2 characterizes cross-domain intraindividual cognitive variability in college athletes before and after sports-related concussion. This paper examines the impact of concussion on cognitive variability, divides athletes into clusters based on cognitive variability before and after injury, and explores possible correlates of this variability. Paper 3 examines the influence of motivation on neuropsychological test performance. This study considers athletes’ motivation at baseline in relationship to baseline neuropsychological test performance, as well as the likelihood of being classified as impaired post-concussion. Paper 4 evaluates cross-domain cognitive variability as an indicator of vulnerability to injury at baseline, and as an indicator of neurological impairment post-concussion. This paper uses longitudinal structural equation modeling to test a multi-stage mediation model predicting post-concussion cognitive decline. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.