Sex-Related Differences in Visuomotor Skill Recovery Following Concussion in Working-Aged Adults

The performance of complex visuomotor tasks in which the guiding visual information does not align spatially with the required motor output is contingent on the brain's ability to integrate somatosensory information into an appropriate motor response. Performance on such "cognitive-motor integration" tasks is affected in concussion. Here, we investigate the relationship between visuomotor skill performance, concussion history, and sex during the course of a post-concussion management program. Participants with and without a concussion history were tested on their visuomotor skills prior to and following the recovery program. We observed significant visuomotor skill improvement in participants with a concussion history compared to healthy controls. Notably, we observed stronger recovery of skilled performance in females. Our findings indicate that rule-based visuomotor skill is impaired following concussion, though this ability can be improved over the course of a recovery program. Stronger recovery in females suggests sex-related differences in the brain networks controlling skilled performance.

Author dc:creator

• Smeha, Nicole

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sergio, Lauren E.

• Health sciences

Statement dc:rights

• Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10315/38688

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:yorkspace.library.yorku.ca:10315/38688