The persistent influence of concussion on attention, executive control and neuroelectric function in preadolescent children

• Children with and without a history of concussion completed a battery of executive control tasks while brain activity was recorded.
• Concussed children show deficits in attention, working memory and impulse control.
• Children with a history of concussion exhibit neuroelectric alterations in ERP.
• The age at injury related to the magnitude of several concussion-related deficits.

The aim of this investigation was to examine the influence of pediatric sport-related concussion on brain and cognitive function. To do so, we used a between-participants design, measures of executive control, and event-related potentials (ERPs). The findings demonstrate that children with a history of concussion exhibit behavioral deficits in attention, working memory and impulse control, as well as neuroelectric alterations in ERP indices of visual attention (N1), conflict resolution (N2) and attentional resource allocation (P3). Furthermore, the age at injury related to the magnitude of several concussion-related deficits. Accordingly, a single sports-related concussive incident during childhood (m = 2.1 years prior to testing) may lead to subtle, yet pervasive alterations in the behavioral and neural indices of attention and executive control, and age at injury may moderate injury outcomes.