@article{216,
  keywords = {Behavioral assessment, Concussion, EEG, Event-related potentials, Football, mTBI},
  author = {Kyle Ruiter and Rober Boshra and Mitchell Doughty and Michael Noseworthy and John Connolly},
  title = {Disruption of function: Neurophysiological markers of cognitive deficits in retired football players.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Recent studies demonstrate that sports-related concussions can have negative consequences on long-term brain health. The goal of the present study was to determine whether retired Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes with a history of concussions exhibit alterations in neurocognitive functioning, along with changes in physical, social, and psychological health.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Our study compared nineteen retired CFL athletes{\textquoteright} concussion histories to eighteen healthy age-matched controls with no history of concussion. Self-report inventories were used to assess depression, memory, attention, and general health. Neurophysiological markers of cognitive function were evaluated with event-related brain potentials (ERPs) as measured in two protocols: (1) A Mismatch Negativity (MMN) protocol for assessing the automatic early attentional brain mechanism; and, (2) a P300 auditory oddball task for assessing consciously controlled attention.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Relative to controls, CFL players exhibited: response delays and reduced amplitudes in neurophysiological responses; overall decreases in cognitive function; and poorer scores on self-reports of physical, social, and psychological health; reflecting problems in all three categories.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Our findings demonstrate that multiple concussions sustained over several years can lead to altered cognitive and psychosocial function.</p>

<p><strong>SIGNIFICANCE: </strong>Neurophysiological markers of conscious and pre-conscious attention provide an objective assessment for evaluating long-term cognitive consequences of concussion.</p>
},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology},
  volume = {130},
  pages = {111-121},
  month = {01/2019},
  issn = {1872-8952},
  doi = {10.1016/j.clinph.2018.10.013},
  language = {eng},
}