Neurocognitive vulnerability amongst university rugby players versus noncontact sport controls

Authors: Shuttleworth-Edwards, Ann¹; Smith, Ian¹; Radloff, Sarah²

Source: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology (Neuropsychology, Developm, Volume 30, Number 8, April 2008 , pp. 870-884(15)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

University rugby players were compared with IQ-equivalent noncontact sports controls on memory and attentional tasks at the pre- and postseason intervals. Results revealed significant lowering for rugby players relative to controls at the postseason interval for attentional tasks with a speeded visuomotor component (ImPACT Visual Motor Speed; Trail Making Test, TMT, A and B). There was a practice effect for controls only between the pre- and postseason intervals for attentional tasks that commonly reveal improvements after a long retest interval (TMT A and B; Digits Backwards). Medium to large effect sizes implicate clinically relevant cognitive vulnerability for university-level rugby players in association with years of exposure to repetitive concussive injury.

Keywords: Mild traumatic brain injury; Sports concussion; Rugby Union

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13803390701846914

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa 2: Department of Statistics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

Publication date: 2008-04-01