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Dillon Brown
Mrs. DeBock
English 4
9 March 2016
Essential Question: Does a neuropsychologist actually help when a patient sustains a
concussion?
Working Thesis: When someone sustains a concussion, it is important to see a neuropsychologist
so they can treat the concussion and give you solutions to help heal the concussion.
Refined Thesis: Neuropsychologists work hard to help concussed athletes as they run tests to
evaluate the injury, evaluate the information and determine the severity of the concussion and
give solutions to heal the injury.
Annotated Bibliography
Comper, Paul Hutchison, Michael Magrys, Sylvia Mainwaring, Lynda Richards, Doug.
"Evaluating The Methodological Quality Of Sports Neuropsychology
Concussion Research: A Systematic Review." Brain Injury 24.11 (2010):
1257-1271. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 16 Mar. 2016
The article Evaluating The Methodological Quality of Sports Neuropsychology
Concussion Research: A Systematic Review, goes on to explain concussions in detail and how
some concussions are more severe than others. Concussions have three types of severity, with a
grade 1 concussion being less severe and a grade 3 concussion being extremely severe. A grade 1
concussion is when the victim does not lose consciousness and post-concussion symptoms are
cleared in less than 30 minutes. A grade 2 concussion is mild but considered serious. The victim
loses consciousness for less than a minute and post-concussion symptoms last longer than 30

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minutes but less than 24 hours. And a grade 3 concussion is extremely severe. The victim loses
consciousness for more than a minute and post-concussion symptoms last longer than 24 hours
and can even last 7 days or beyond. When someone sustains multiple grade 2 concussions, the
door to CTE is opened, but if a victim sustains multiple grade 3 concussion, that doors hinges
are blown off and that door is swung open. Most doctors who have worked with patients who
have sustained multiple grade 3 concussion usually tell their patients the long road they are about
to endure. After the neuropsychologist run tests, they are able to determine the severity of the
patients concussion. This article is relevant to the research because it explains the severity of
concussions and how to determine the difference between a grade 1 to a grade 3 concussion.
Comper, Paul Hutchison, Michael Magrys, Sylvia Mainwaring, Lynda Richards, Doug.
"Evaluating The Methodological Quality Of Sports Neuropsychology Concussion
Research: A Systematic Review." Brain Injury 24.11 (2010): 1257-1271. Psychology
and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 16 Mar. 2016
The article Evaluating The Methodological Quality of Sports Neuropsychology
Concussion Research: A Systematic Review, discusses concussions and how they can be
treated. There is not an actual cure for concussion, but doctors have found that rest helps the
mind heal. Depending on the severity of the concussion, doctors usually inform their patients that
they need to go a complete mental break. The patient should not use any technology, watch tv,
read any books, partake in any physical activity, or do anything that involves any thinking.
Which means they will need to take a break from school. If the victim experiences any pain or
vomiting while resting, they are instructed to rush back to the hospital for intensive care. When a
patient sustains a grade three concussion, they are usually kept at the hospital for safe measures.
Doctors inform their patients that it is extremely dangerous to try and tough it out, because it

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will make the symptoms worse and could result in Second-Impact Syndrome. Only when the
symptoms have reduced significantly, will it be safe to resume physically and mentally
demanding activities. This article is relevant to the research because it explains the treatment that
is necessary for those who are recovering from a concussion. Those who choose to ignore the
recovery could be risking their lives.
Karr, Justin E.Garcia-Barrera, Mauricio A.Areshenkoff, Corson N. "Executive Functions And
Intraindividual Variability Following Concussions." Journal Of Clinical & Experimental
Neuropsychology 36.1 (2014): 15-31. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection.
Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
The article Executive Functions and Intraindividual Variability Following Concussions.
analyzes concussions and provides valuable information on how neuropsychologists help
patients who have sustained a level two concussion or greater. A visit to a neuropsychologist is
only necessary to those who have sustained a mild or severe concussion. First the doctor will ask
you simple and basic questions, such as, where are we? What is your name? And some of the
other basic questions. They ask these questions to get a better understanding of the severity of the
injury. After the questions they prep you for a CT or MRI scan. A CT scan is a machine that
combines x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and three
dimensional images to evaluate for the four types of intracranial bleeding in the brain, swelling
of the brain during the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury, or to detect the skull. While a MRI
scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the bodys soft tissue
and bones, and is used if imaging is needed for more than 48 hours after an injury to evaluate
persistent or worsening symptoms. These tests help the doctor determine what is needed for

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treatment, or if you are in need of more help. This article is relevant to the research because it
gives specific information on some of the tests neuropsychologist run to help their patients.