MULES on the Sidelines: A Vision-Based Assessment Tool for Sports-Related Concussion

The Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System (MULES) is a test of rapid picture naming under investigation. Measures of rapid automatic naming (RAN) have been used for over 50 years to capture vision-based aspects of cognition. MULES was designed as a series of 54 grouped color photographs (fruits, random objects, animals) that integrates saccades, color perception and contextual object identification. Recent changes to the MULES test were made to improve ease of use on the sidelines, including re-sizing to a laminated 8.5x11-inch double-sided version. We examined feasibility for testing of the revised MULES in youth, collegiate and professional athletes for preseason baseline testing and for sideline post-injury assessment.