Development of Concussion Evaluation Tools Using Life-Like Virtual Reality Environments

Concussions are a common type of traumatic brain injury that can have severe consequences and are often induced by sports injuries. Once concussed, patients are more likely to sustain a second concussion, as they could be returned to play before they have fully recovered, in what is known as second-impact syndrome. Repeated concussions can also lead to delayed post-traumatic brain degradation, causing dementia and movement disorders. It is important to be able to detect concussions in an accurate and timely manner to avoid severe long-term effects. Current methods of diagnosis require a knowledgeable physician to be able to identify inconspicuous symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and imbalance. It is necessary to develop new tools that enable the diagnosis of concussions reliably and quantitatively. The researchers in this thesis propose a method to classify concussions in hockey players based on the reaction time to an external stimulus in a VR environment. Different hockey scenarios were recorded with the use of a 360 degree camera and ambisonic microphone. The scenarios involved the dual-task challenge of a puck being passed towards the camera followed by a hockey player charging towards the camera. The collected audio and video are played back to participants on an Oculus Rift head-mounted display. The participants then attempt to track the puck and avoid the charging hockey player while the VR scenario is replayed. Emg data is collected from the quadriceps femoris muscle group, minus the vastus lateralis, to measure the reaction time of the participants to the virtual collision. Motion capture data is also collected to track head directionality during the experimental procedure to gauge the spatial awareness of participants. There appear to be no observable differences between participants with a history of concussions and participants without a history of concussions. Preliminary results will be shown; however, more data collection is needed in the future to be able to classify concussions based on reaction time and motion. In the future, this work will be expanded to players who have suffered a recent concussion (< 1 month), where their reaction times and motion will also be collected throughout their recovery

Display Enhanced Testing For Concussions And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive assessment systems and methods that provide an integrated solution for evaluating the presence or absence of cognitive impairment. The present invention is used to test cognitive functions of an individual including information processing speed, working memory, work list learning and recall, along with variations of these tasks. Immersive and non-immersive systems and methods are disclosed. Testing and results feedback using the present invention may be completed in real time, typically in less than 15 minutes.Emory UniversityGeorgia Tech Research Corporatio

The development of a novel pitch-side concussion balance assessment: a comparison between a virtual reality based balance tool and the modified balance error scoring system

Background: Balance deficits are a key measurable marker of concussion injuries. An objective pitch-side concussion balance assessment needs to replace current subjective, insensitive, unportable tests. A novel pitch-side dual-task VR test has been developed to evoke perturbations, and measure COP path length changes, via a WBB. Aims: To establish whether a VR WBB system is effectively able to assess postural stability, by evoking perturbations, and to measure subsequent changes in COP path length. To establish whether mBESS error scores, or objective mBESS COP path lengths correlate with changes in COP path length post-perturbation. Methods: 14 female University of Birmingham hockey players aged 18-21 performed both the mBESS and the VR WBB assessment at the pitch-side. Results: The mean COP path length post-perturbation was significantly greater than pre- perturbation, as the tilt induced a compensatory sway response. SL error scores significantly correlated with SL COP path length, and COP path length percentage change from pre to post-perturbation. Conclusion: The dual-task VR WBB system effectively assesses postural stability by measuring subsequent changes in COP path length. The objective nature and plethora of information provided by the VR WBB system, heightens its appeal over the mBESS, as an assessment of postural stability