Divided Visual Attention Performance of Ice Hockey Players with History of Concussion

Background: A significant part of successful athletic performance is the use of peripheral vision. A divide visual attention task with a central and peripheral target was used to assess athletes with and without a history of concussion. The research suggests that both groups had the same response accuracy in the task performance. The purpose of this research was to determine if peripheral visual attention is impacted in ice hockey players who have had a history of one or more self reported concussion. Methods: Orientation discrimination accuracy of a pair of Landolt type block “C” targets was measured using a divided covert attention task on 22 collegiate level men’s ice hockey players. Stimuli were presented simultaneously at central fixation and at one of 40 peripheral locations against a bright white background for two stimulus durations (150ms and 15ms). Block “C” targets were presented at one of 4 orientations (up, down, left and right) and randomized for central and peripheral locations. Results: Overall there was a statistically significant difference in the performance at 150ms and 15ms stimuli durations; athletes had a larger area of correct responses with the 150ms stimulus duration. Athletes performed better in the horizontal meridian compared to the vertical meridian for both stimulus durations. Conclusion: The divided visual attention test results for a cohort of university level men’s ice hockey players shows a decline in area of correct responses with shorter stimulus durations. There was no difference in response accuracy between those with a history of a concussion compared to those without a previous concussion.