Working memory capacity among collegiate student athletes: effects of sport-related head contacts, concussions, and working memory demands.

OBJECTIVE To measure working memory capacity among a cohort of collegiate athletes and to compare results between athletes competing in head-contact-prone sports with those not subject to repeated head contacts. A secondary objective was to determine the effect of sport-related concussion on working memory capacity. DESIGN Ambidirectional cohort study. SETTING Athletics department at an American university. PARTICIPANTS Student athletes competing in various sports. INTERVENTIONS None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT Automated operation span test scores. RESULTS Working memory capacity is not impaired in student athletes who participate in head-contact-prone sports or in student athletes with a history of diagnosed concussion, even those who are multiconcussed. Our results suggest that athletes competing in sports that impose significant working memory loading score higher on the automated operation span test than do other athletes. CONCLUSIONS Further research is required to determine the value of measuring working memory capacity in acutely concussed, symptomatic athletes.