Booth Id:
BEHA027
Category:
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Year:
2019
Finalist Names:
Santucci, Giovanni (School: Ossining High School)
Abstract:
Past research has shown that athletes have higher susceptibility to multiple concussive
events after initial injury. Novel understanding of the detrimental effects of multiple concussions
have resulted in a need for investigation a potential deficits associated with multiple concussive
events. Studies have demonstrated that neuronal damage can result in the early onset of
dementia-related symptoms and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This study aimed to examine
the sensory integration of high school athletes with a history of multiple concussive injuries
using virtual reality as a novel approach to isolate visual dependence and discover differences in
reaction and postural sway. Two sets of high school aged participants were used comprising of
one set composed of students who had experienced more than one concussion and another who
had no history of concussive events, which was used as a control. The participants experienced
several virtual reality scenes including two star scenes as well as a park scene, allowing for the
reaction time and body movement of each participant to be recorded and mapped in order to
comprehensively document the sensory integration ability of athletes. In tandem with reaction
time, the postural sway and balance of participants was recorded to establish a correlation
between sensory integration and motor output. This correlation further reveals the pivotal
influence of sensory integration on athlete’s vulnerability to concussive events. This can be
determined through the movement of a participant's head in a 3D environment. Expanding our
understanding allows for the development of new and novel therapies to better rehabilitate
athletes.
Awards Won:
First Award of $3,000
Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000
American Psychological Association: Certificate of Honorable Mention