Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussion, results from various incidents like falls, accidents, or assaults. Most people recover from an mTBI within a few months. However, some continue to experience symptoms and impairment past the typical recovery period. Usually, physicians use self-report checklists and initial injury details, such as loss of consciousness, to diagnose and understand the severity of an mTBI. They also often rely on standard pen and pencil tests to see how well someone is recovering. However, these methods may not show the full extent of the injury. Our research suggests a new way to more accurately diagnose and predict how well someone will recover from an mTBI. We propose using eye-tracking technology. Eye-tracking technology observes and records eye movements, which provides an objective look at potential brain issues. The study has two main aims. First, we want to compare the cognitive functions (e.g., memory and concentration) of people with mTBI's to those without, using both traditional pen and pencil tests and eye-tracking measures. Second, we want to explore how factors before (e.g., previous mental health diagnoses), during (e.g., the emotional impact of the injury), and after (e.g., seeking compensation) the injury influence recovery outcomes. The goal is to understand more about how mTBI's work, increase diagnostic accuracy, and pave the way for improved treatment plans for those who experience persistent symptoms.