Lay summary
Concussions are receiving increasing global attention and are considered more dangerous to health than ever before. While many recover successfully, research consistently shows that some people require more time to heal and experience persistent cognitive symptoms, including difficulties with memory and concentration in their daily lives. General recovery expectations after a concussion have been found to influence outcomes; however, these factors have not been thoroughly investigated in relation to cognitive recovery. This two-phase project explores factors that affect cognitive recovery following concussion, with a particular focus on a person’s understanding of concussion, their subjective experiences, and their expectations; referred to together as nocebo effects. This project will use a mixed-methods research design to define and measure cognitive recovery and identify contributors to concussion nocebo effects. This will provide a deeper understanding of the factors that influence cognitive recovery that can be used to improve outcomes for those affected by concussion.