A-101 Reaction Time and Reaction Time Variability with the Brain Gauge Somatosensory Device in Service Members with and without Acute Concussion

Abstract Objective Research has demonstrated reaction time variability (RTV) as a potentially sensitive metric for post-concussion assessments. The Brain Gauge Clinical Metrics battery (BG) device uses tactile sensory stimulation to elicit response, increasing accuracy <1 msec versus 30–100 in visually-based (RT) measures. We sought determine if BG RTV could adequately identify individuals with acute concussion. Methods administered 98 healthy control service members (SMs) and 64 SMs within 7 days of medically diagnosed includes simple RT repeated subtests each test calculated the sd mean participant. used t-tests gamma regression compare group means. “Cutoffs” based on percentiles distribution were proportion falling below these cutoffs was determined. Results There statistically significant differences large effect sizes between groups across all four metrics. participants concussion higher than among controls, sizes. T-tests showed that differed significantly under multiple distributional assumptions. Conclusions Both using somatosensory ability discriminate This is further evidence measure use stimulus may represent an improvement over visual stimulus.