Examining Computerized Neuropsychological Test Performance Scores Pre to Post Season Following a Season of Competitive Interscholastic Girls’ Soccer

Abstract

Purposeful heading of a soccer ball is an inherent and strategic part of the sport. Recent neuroimaging evidence suggests that there may be detrimental effects of repetitive soccer heading on neurophysiology. With neuropsychological testing (NP) part of most sport-related concussion management programs, the ability to access this data and make reasonable conclusions even in the absence of concussion is advantageous. PURPOSE: To determine if differences in NP test performance exist pre to post season in a large cohort of female interscholastic soccer players. METHODS: A total of 707 interscholastic female soccer players from 19 different schools consented to participate in this study. Subjects were administered the computerized Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) test battery prior to and at the conclusion of their playing season. Throughput scores (T-PUT) (measures of performance speed and accuracy) were taken from the ANAM test battery for the Simple Reaction Time (SRT), Math Processing Test (MTH), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Matching to Sample (MSP), Sternberg Memory Test (ST6), Repeat Simple Reaction Time (RSRT), and Repeat Continuous Performance Test (RCPT); whereas higher scores are interpreted as better. Data were analyzed using a series of paired-samples t-tests. RESULTS: Significant (all p-values P < .000) improvements in T-PUT scores occurred in 6 of 7 of the NP variables [SRT 209.1 vs. 212.5, MTH 21.9 vs. 25.0, CPT 92.1 vs.103.4, MSP 31.0 vs. 33.6, ST6 75.4 vs. 82.7, RCPT 100.1 vs. 109.9]. The only pair that was not significant was RSRT (208.3 vs. 209.3). Calculated effect sizes ranged from small to medium. CONCLUSION: The SRT, RSRT, and MSP values reported here are lower than those previously reported in collegiate athletes. Practice effect improvements of +9 for SRT, +2 for MTH, +5 for MSP, and +10 for ST6 have been previously shown and compare favorably to what is demonstrated in our subject pool. Having hypothesized that we would find deficits in NP test performance, we unexpectedly report that in all NP variables this cohort actually improved performance. Our large scale research effort involving female interscholastic soccer players is important in providing evidence surrounding issues related to the subconcussive head impacts that take place during soccer competition.