Implementation of multimodal concussion research within military medical environments

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is highly prevalent in military service members. Importantly, mTBI causes neurocognitive impairment, and clinical management of mTBI in military settings often includes the evaluation of neurocognitive impairment via computerized neurocognitive tests. However, the sensitivity and clinical utility of these tests for mTBI have been questioned. Therefore, the Department of Defense has devoted significant resources to supporting the development of more advanced neurocognitive assessment technologies, such as eye tracking. Further, eye tracking integrated with neurocognitive tests is a burgeoning research domain, and a recent structured review of eye tracking in mTBI advocated for future protocols that always collect neurocognitive performance data to better understand the relationship between eye movements and cognitive function, as examined through mTBI-induced functional changes. This chapter discusses the development of neurocognitive eye-tracking technology for the evaluation of mTBI, with an emphasis on techniques used to enhance implementation in military populations and settings.