# The Use of Eye Movement Testing to Detect Neurocognitive Change Associated with Subconcussive Impacts

> **NIH NIH F31** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $34,421

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Chronic exposure to head impacts is linked to later susceptibility for serious neuropsychiatric conditions including
depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Most
athletes who participate in collision sports (e.g. American football, ice hockey, rugby, etc.) sustain many head
impacts over the course of an athletic season. The majority of impacts are classified as subconcussive impacts,
defined as direct or indirect blows to the head that do not result in observable acute symptoms but nonetheless
compromise axonal integrity and may have an adverse cumulative effect over time. Cross-sectional studies of
former high school, collegiate, and professional collision sport athletes demonstrate impairments in cognition,
neural structure, and neural function associated with the accumulation of subconcussive impacts. Prospective,
longitudinal (e.g. pre- to post-season) studies of collision sport-athletes demonstrate structural and functional
neural changes associated with subconcussive impacts but have not consistently demonstrated cognitive
changes over this timeframe. There is a high probability, however, the cognitive measures currently used in the
literature to detect change associated with subconcussive impacts lack adequate sensitivity. Alternatively,
laboratory based eye movement testing shows promising sensitivity for reliably detecting neurocognitive change
associated with head trauma. Established experimental eye movement paradigms allow for reliable assessment
of executive cognitive abilities, such as attentional control and working memory. Many brain regions involved in
the control of eye movements are associated with pathophysiological changes following symptomatic
concussion. Therefore, eye movement testing is aptly suited to detect change associated with accumulated
subconcussive impacts. The purpose of the proposed project is to assess the ability of eye movement testing to
detect change associated with subconcussive impacts sustained over a collision-sports season (ice hockey)
among collegiate athletes. Pre- to post-season change observed on eye movement testing will be compared to
change observed on ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), the
computerized cognitive measure most commonly used in the literature. Non-collision sport athletes studied over
a similar period will serve as a control group. Completing this project will improve scientific knowledge regarding
neurocognitive consequences associated with subconcussive impacts and the methodological validity of eye
movement testing to detect change associated with subconcussive impact exposure. This work will provide the
foundation to launch important future research regarding dose effects of subconcussive impacts and the use of
eye movement testing to track and predict long-term adverse change associated with subconcussive impacts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9840402
- **Project number:** 5F31NS106840-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Virginia Terwilliger Gallagher
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $34,421
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9840402

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9840402, The Use of Eye Movement Testing to Detect Neurocognitive Change Associated with Subconcussive Impacts (5F31NS106840-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9840402. Licensed CC0.

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