Perceptual-Cognitive Training After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Towards a Sensitive Marker for Recovery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is part of a larger, multi-centered project done with the collaboration of University Of Victoria. This study holds three separate studies on the mild traumatic brain injured population and the use of perceptual-cognitive training (3D-MOT).

Official Title
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Perceptual-Cognitive Training After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Towards a Sensitive Marker for Recovery

Conditions
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Brain Concussion, Post-Concussion Symptoms, Concussion

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: 3D-MOT Neurotracker
* Other: Visual Attention Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The child experienced a head injury (a direct or indirect blow to the head) resulting in concussion-like symptoms (e.g. headache, nausea, balance problems, tiredness, visual problems, cognitive issues) in the previous 72 hours Parent/legal guardian speak English or French The child speak English or French Exclusion Criteria: Previous concussion in the last 6 months, or any previous concussion with unresolved symptoms Multi-system injuries requiring admission, operating room, procedural sedation in the Emergency Department Other co-existing injuries, co-morbidities or diagnoses preventing participation to intervention/assessment of gait and balance Pre-morbid or co-morbid condition affecting visual function Patient intoxicated at the time of injury Significant developmental delay Loss of consciousness prior to head injury

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group<br>Standard care + 3D-MOT protocol. | Other: 3D-MOT Neurotracker<br>* A predetermined number of spheres (eight) are presented in the 3D-MOT task. The spheres are all identical in shape and color. Before each trial, four spheres are highlighted, and then returned to their original color. Participants will be asked to track those four spheres for the duration of the trial (8 seconds). Spheres will be moving, bouncing, colliding, until they finally stop moving and the participant has to identify the spheres that were initially highlighted. Previous work with healthy individuals has shown that the minimum optimal number of sessions (3 blocks) necessary to induce brain plasticity and enhance other, non-trained brain functions is between 5-6. The training protocol will therefore include 6 sessions (3 blocks each), at intervals of 48 to 72 hours, over a maximum of 3 weeks.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Active control group<br>Standard care + visual attention task (2048 online game) | Other: Visual Attention Intervention<br>* The visual attention intervention will consist of the 2048 game, a single-player sliding block puzzle game of which the objective is to slide numbered tiles on a grid to combine them to create number 2048. 2048 is played on a gray 4×4 grid, with numbered tiles that slide smoothly when a player moves them using the four arrow keys. Every turn, a new tile will randomly appear in an empty spot on the board with a value of either 2 or 4.Tiles slide as far as possible in the chosen direction until they are stopped by either another tile or the edge of the grid. If two tiles of the same number collide while moving, they will merge into a tile with the total value of the two tiles that collided. Higher-scoring tiles emit a soft glow. Children will play for a time equivalent to that of the 3D-MOT.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>Standard care alone | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Post Concussion Symptom Inventory | Post-concussion symptoms checklist | 1 month |