Could Neurotracker be used as a clinical marker of recovery following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury? An exploratory study

Brain Inj. 2020 Feb 23;34(3):385-389. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1723699. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Abstract

Primary objective: This study aimed to explore the potential for the Neurotracker, a perceptual-cognitive, multiple-object tracking test, and train paradigm, as a marker of functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It is hypothesized that Neurotracker could serve as a proxy for assessing cerebral functioning.

Research design: A comparative, 6 time points, longitudinal study design was used to compare Neurotracker performance between children and adolescents who were clinically recovered from mTBI and healthy controls.

Methods and procedures: Clinical measures were collected at the initial and final visits. Neurotracker trainings were performed at each of the 6 visits. Speed thresholds (Neurotracker performance) were recorded at each visit.

Main outcomes and results: A two-way repeated measures ANOVA suggested no differences between the groups but a significant time effect was apparent.

Conclusions: Clinically recovered children and adolescents exhibit similar training abilities to control subjects on this task. These results support further investigations using Neurotracker as a marker of recovery following mTBI.

Keywords: Neurotracker; Object tracking; children; concussion; mild traumatic brain injury; pediatrics; perceptual-cognitive training; return to activities; three-dimensional multiple object tracking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers*
  • Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Recovery of Function*

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding