Concussion Research
The primary line of concussion research is related to identifying and understanding the lingering deficits which appear to persist well past recovery on standard clinical testing. Research includes quantitative eye tracking and the monitoring of repetitive head impacts. With the inclusion of new technologies such as the Applied Science Laboratory head mounted and mobile eye tracking system as well as the Helmet Impact Telemetry System, faculty are attempting to answer a myriad of research questions regarding longitudinal recovery post-injury.
Research Team
Dedicated to the scientific understanding of sports-related concussion and their resulting consequences. The interdisciplinary research team is lead by Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology faculty, Barry Munkasy, Ph.D., who works closely with a diverse array of faculty and students at Georgia Southern University as well as collaborative relationships with the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.
The research team has received extensive coverage for the addition of the Helmet Impact Telemetry System (HITS) into the research from major newspapers including the Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post, and the Charlotte Observer, among others. The team was profiled on WTGS FOX 28 , WMAZ in Macon, GA and Macon CBS, as well as NBC Nightly News.
Funding Sources
Georgia Southern faculty have received funding from the National Institute of Health/Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Army Research Office Life Science Division, and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation to support their research studies. Faculty and students have published multiple research papers in high impact peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, regional, and national sports medicine conferences.
Concussion Information
What is a Concussion?
The 4th International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport defines a concussions as, “a brain injury and is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by biomechanical forces.”
What is this 4th International Consensus Statement on Concussion?
The 4th International Consensus Statement on Concussion (or 4th CIS) was a gathering of leading experts, both clinicians and researchers, in Zurich, Switzerland which occurred in November 2012. This meeting occurs approximately every three years and the experts update the current knowledge and best-practice patterns for the medical management of concussions. The 4th CIS is freely available online from the Journal of Athletic Training.
Do you have to get knocked unconscious in order for a concussion to have occurred?
No! In fact, the vast majority, probably over 90% of concussions do not involve loss of consciousness and 75% do not involve memory loss. A large scale study of NCAA athletes found that the most common symptoms of a concussion include: headache, blurred vision, feeling in a “fog” or just not feeling right, dizziness, feeling slowed down, concentration problems, sensitivity to light or noise, fatigue, drowsiness, and memory problems.
Last updated: 6/17/2021
