psych (Tr-Cosh)

2

Troy Archer

Fayetteville State University

English 120

Dr. Donte McDowell

August 30, 2026

Annotated Bibliography

Title: Traumatic Brain Injuries in Football

The annotated bibliography focuses on scientific articles regarding traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions, and repeated head trauma associated with playing football. The problem under investigation is relevant due to the fact that football is a contact sport which is related not only to TBIs but also to possible side effects associated with the game. The selected articles deal with professional and college football, cognitive function, depression, neuroimaging, and limitations of existing research in the field.

Source 1

Vos, B. C., Nieuwenhuijsen, K., & Sluiter, J. K. (2018). Consequences of traumatic brain injury in professional American football players: A systematic review of the literature. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 28(2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000432

Annotation:

Vos, Nieuwenhuijsen, and Sluiter performed a systematic review on the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury in professional American football players. The researchers conducted a search in the PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases from 1990 to 2015 and found 21 relevant articles. A number of outcomes were considered, such as cognitive functioning, psychological state, physical condition, and sports performance. The authors found the evidence supporting the relationship between history of concussions and depression in adulthood and physical dysfunction in the short term. There is moderate evidence about mild cognitive impairment and limited evidence about executive dysfunction. Memory impairment, reaction time, visual-motor speed, and sports performance were not clearly connected with the history of concussions.

This source is significant because it is a systematic review, not a case study, and evaluates the evidence found in several sources. The main strength of this source is its broad scope; however, its main weakness is the presence of inconclusive evidence concerning the relationship between some long-term consequences and history of concussions in the professional athletes. This source will be useful for the research paper since it provides an objective and balanced view: the concussion in the context of football can cause some negative outcomes but requires further research for others.

Source 2

McCrory, P. R., et al. (2017). A systematic review of potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51, 969–977. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097791

Annotation:

McCrory et al. performed a systematic review on the potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion among retired athletes. The researchers analyzed thousands of articles and selected 47 studies that fit their criteria. According to their results, multiple concussions can be related to cognitive impairment and mental disorders among some retired athletes. Moreover, according to their findings, some former professional American football players could have impaired cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, the results about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurodegenerative diseases were not sufficient to make definite conclusions regarding all potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion.

The article is especially valuable due to its balanced approach. On the one hand, it focuses on both established facts and uncertainties, which makes the study interesting. On the other hand, it pays special attention to the methodological issues, which means that the study is quite strong. The sources of information about the potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion are also impressive, because the authors analyzed a large number of articles, which made them able to compare the results received in different studies. The article will help me avoid making wrong claims regarding all possible long-term effects of concussions.

Source 3

Legarreta, A. D., et al. (2018). Long-term neuroimaging findings in American football players: Systematic review. World Neurosurgery, 116, e136–e143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.079

Annotation:

Legarreta et al. reviewed studies on neuroimaging outcomes in American football players over time. It was done through a systematic review of 16 studies using high school, college, and professional football players. The brain imaging techniques used in these studies included structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, positron emission tomography, functional MRI, and others. Some of the studies showed statistically significant results of brain activity or structure differences in former football players. However, they have also revealed many methodological drawbacks, such as inadequate control group, incorrect statistical analysis, and memory recall issues related to the history of concussion.

This source is important since it shows that researchers are exploring whether repetitive exposures to American football may lead to persistent brain structure or activity changes. Its biggest advantage is the systematic review of various neuroimaging techniques. Still, Legarreta et al. correctly note that neuroimaging outcomes cannot be interpreted as clinical deficits by default. This drawback becomes particularly important when talking about the issue of traumatic brain injury since the difference in brain structure does not automatically imply the development of certain disorders.

Source 4

Guskiewicz, K. M., et al. (2018). Association between history of multiple concussions and health outcomes among former college football players: 15-year follow-up from the NCAA Concussion Study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(10), 2494–2503. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546518782696

Annotation:

Guskiewicz et al. studied the connection between the number of past concussions and future health of ex-collegiate football players. In this particular study, the authors examined athletes who participated in at least one NCAA season of football between 1999 and 2001 and did not play in any pro-football league after that. The subjects of the study were studied approximately 15 years after their college period. This allowed researchers to analyze the health issues of the participants not just during the recovery period after concussion but also later in life. The following aspects were studied – physical health, mental health, depressive symptoms, and alcohol-related issues.

The value of the research is in its specificity to the group of former football players and its long-term follow-up of 15 years. Nonetheless, the study suffers from its cross-sectional nature and the fact that the data regarding the number of past concussions comes from participants. In spite of the fact that there are some limitations for the use of this information for research, this article will be helpful for analyzing the issue and will be used in the research paper.

Part 1

Outline Assignment- Due Friday- 9/4/26 (TR)

Please submit your outline for the Informative Essay at this link. The outline must have all the necessary components for it to be graded effectively. Please follow the Blank Outline Template under Resources in this week's module. Also, please view the sample outline to have a model.  Make sure that you are using the same final topic that you generated with the Research Topic and the Annotated Bibliography. You should use MLA header for this assignment.  This assignment is due Friday, September 4, 2025 by 11:55PM.

Topic below

Step 4: Choose Your Final Topic

Pick the research question that interests you the most and rewrite it as a clear topic statement.

1. Final Research Question: T o what extent does the athletic pressure to perform through injury lead athletes to mask concussion symptoms, and how does this culture of silence delay critical intervention for CTE?

2. What role: Sports and CTE

Topic Statement (what you will research):

CTE as it relates to sports injuries

The social pressure on athletes to work through their pain can relate to a “warrior mentality” and the desire to perform even when they are hurt.  For the athlete, concealing neurological symptoms such as depression, suicide, and aggression are all symptoms of CTE. Should owners of sports team make athletes adhere to TBI screening before they leave the leagues?

How everyday hits add up: understanding the difference between a single, obvious concussion and the slow, hidden brain damage caused by thousands of smaller blows over a career. To what extent does the cumulative toll of thousands of minor, unnoticed blows rather than isolated concussions explain why so many contact-sport athletes experience progressive cognitive and medical decline only after their careers end?

Several methods can detect brain injury, ranging from immediate sideline screenings and cognitive evaluations during an athlete’s playing days to advanced neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, and post-mortem tissue analysis, but can this stop a TBI from happening?

Part 2 (Cosh)

Prenatal development is a critical period in human growth. Biological processes, maternal health, and environmental conditions all influence how the fetus develops from conception to birth. For this week’s discussion, explore one aspect of prenatal development and why it matters.

Write at least 300 word well developed and well written response. Use APA formatting guide to create accurate citations and documentation to give credit for any resource material used in your response.

2

Troy Archer

Fayetteville State University

English 120

Dr. Donte McDowell

August 30, 2026

Annotated Bibliography

Title: Traumatic Brain Injuries in Football

The annotated bibliography focuses on scientific articles regarding traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions, and repeated head trauma associated with playing football. The problem under investigation is relevant due to the fact that football is a contact sport which is related not only to TBIs but also to possible side effects associated with the game. The selected articles deal with professional and college football, cognitive function, depression, neuroimaging, and limitations of existing research in the field.

Source 1

Vos, B. C., Nieuwenhuijsen, K., & Sluiter, J. K. (2018). Consequences of traumatic brain injury in professional American football players: A systematic review of the literature. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 28(2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000432

Annotation:

Vos, Nieuwenhuijsen, and Sluiter performed a systematic review on the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury in professional American football players. The researchers conducted a search in the PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases from 1990 to 2015 and found 21 relevant articles. A number of outcomes were considered, such as cognitive functioning, psychological state, physical condition, and sports performance. The authors found the evidence supporting the relationship between history of concussions and depression in adulthood and physical dysfunction in the short term. There is moderate evidence about mild cognitive impairment and limited evidence about executive dysfunction. Memory impairment, reaction time, visual-motor speed, and sports performance were not clearly connected with the history of concussions.

This source is significant because it is a systematic review, not a case study, and evaluates the evidence found in several sources. The main strength of this source is its broad scope; however, its main weakness is the presence of inconclusive evidence concerning the relationship between some long-term consequences and history of concussions in the professional athletes. This source will be useful for the research paper since it provides an objective and balanced view: the concussion in the context of football can cause some negative outcomes but requires further research for others.

Source 2

McCrory, P. R., et al. (2017). A systematic review of potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51, 969–977. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097791

Annotation:

McCrory et al. performed a systematic review on the potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion among retired athletes. The researchers analyzed thousands of articles and selected 47 studies that fit their criteria. According to their results, multiple concussions can be related to cognitive impairment and mental disorders among some retired athletes. Moreover, according to their findings, some former professional American football players could have impaired cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, the results about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurodegenerative diseases were not sufficient to make definite conclusions regarding all potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion.

The article is especially valuable due to its balanced approach. On the one hand, it focuses on both established facts and uncertainties, which makes the study interesting. On the other hand, it pays special attention to the methodological issues, which means that the study is quite strong. The sources of information about the potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion are also impressive, because the authors analyzed a large number of articles, which made them able to compare the results received in different studies. The article will help me avoid making wrong claims regarding all possible long-term effects of concussions.

Source 3

Legarreta, A. D., et al. (2018). Long-term neuroimaging findings in American football players: Systematic review. World Neurosurgery, 116, e136–e143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.079

Annotation:

Legarreta et al. reviewed studies on neuroimaging outcomes in American football players over time. It was done through a systematic review of 16 studies using high school, college, and professional football players. The brain imaging techniques used in these studies included structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, positron emission tomography, functional MRI, and others. Some of the studies showed statistically significant results of brain activity or structure differences in former football players. However, they have also revealed many methodological drawbacks, such as inadequate control group, incorrect statistical analysis, and memory recall issues related to the history of concussion.

This source is important since it shows that researchers are exploring whether repetitive exposures to American football may lead to persistent brain structure or activity changes. Its biggest advantage is the systematic review of various neuroimaging techniques. Still, Legarreta et al. correctly note that neuroimaging outcomes cannot be interpreted as clinical deficits by default. This drawback becomes particularly important when talking about the issue of traumatic brain injury since the difference in brain structure does not automatically imply the development of certain disorders.

Source 4

Guskiewicz, K. M., et al. (2018). Association between history of multiple concussions and health outcomes among former college football players: 15-year follow-up from the NCAA Concussion Study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(10), 2494–2503. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546518782696

Annotation:

Guskiewicz et al. studied the connection between the number of past concussions and future health of ex-collegiate football players. In this particular study, the authors examined athletes who participated in at least one NCAA season of football between 1999 and 2001 and did not play in any pro-football league after that. The subjects of the study were studied approximately 15 years after their college period. This allowed researchers to analyze the health issues of the participants not just during the recovery period after concussion but also later in life. The following aspects were studied – physical health, mental health, depressive symptoms, and alcohol-related issues.

The value of the research is in its specificity to the group of former football players and its long-term follow-up of 15 years. Nonetheless, the study suffers from its cross-sectional nature and the fact that the data regarding the number of past concussions comes from participants. In spite of the fact that there are some limitations for the use of this information for research, this article will be helpful for analyzing the issue and will be used in the research paper.