Motivation and the Assessment of Sports-Related Concussion

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the limited information that isavailable regarding the impact of motivation on the neuropsychologicalassessment of sports-related concussion. We first outline what is knownabout the impact of motivation on assessment by identifying how theimpact that differential motivation on baseline and post-concussionevaluations may obscure the true cognitive deficits of concussion. Next,we provide a review of two studies which provide some direct empiricalevidence for differential motivation in baseline and post-concussiontesting. This is followed by a review of possible causative factorsassociated with poor baseline motivation including: personality style,lack of education, and active misrepresentation. Next, the possiblemethods for identification of athletes with poor motivation on testingare presented. This includes both the use of objective measures ofmotivation and the identification of testing patterns consistent withpoor motivation. Finally, the chapter concludes with the identificationthat more empirical research on each of the covered topics is necessary.