Precision of the Integrated Cognitive Assessment for the assessment of neurocognitive performance in athletes

Abstract

Choice reaction time tests are commonly used for the assessment of cognitive function, and may be useful to assess the effect of sport participation. This study investigated the precision of the Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA; Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd., Vancouver, Canada) test for the assessment of cognitive function in athletes. Thirty-one participants volunteered to take part in this study, from both contact (n = 22) and non-contact sports (n = 9). Participants performed the ICA test consecutively both before and after normal training session to simulate resting and post-sport conditions. Precision errors, relationships (Pearsons r), and internal consistency (Cronbachs Alpha) were calculated for three variables, ICA Index (overall information processing ability), ICA Speed (information processing speed) and ICA Accuracy (information processing accuracy). ICA precision errors [root mean squared-standard deviation, RMS-SD (coefficient of variation, %CV)] pre-sport were ICA Index: 5.18 (7.14%), ICA Speed: 3.98 (4.64%), and ICA Accuracy: 3.64 (5.00%); and post-sport were ICA Index: 3.96 (4.94%), ICA Speed: 2.14 (2.32%), and ICA Accuracy 3.40 (4.25%). The ICA test demonstrates high in-vivo precision with all variables except ICA Index (7.14%) demonstrating an acceptable precision error of [≤]5% %CV. All variables demonstrated strong relationships between consecutive tests pre- and post-sport (r [≥] 0.8) except for the ICA Index post-sport which demonstrated a moderate (r [≥] 0.5) relationship. The ICA Index demonstrated good internal consistency ( [≥] 0.8) for both pre-and post-sport. The ICA Speed and ICA Accuracy variables demonstrated excellent internal consistency ( [≥] 0.9) for both pre-and post-sport. The ICA test is suitable for the assessment of cognitive function pre- and post-sport.