Faculty-led research project explores potential cognitive effects from ACL injuries

By RILEY WEST Contributing Writer

BW professors are collaborating with undergraduate students by researching how people who have had anterior cruciate ligament tears are affected cognitively.

The ACL is a ligament in the knee that is commonly injured especially by athletes. The students will research how people with ACL tears think through things and perform athletic movements.

Psychology and neuroscience professor

Patrick Ledwidge, engineering professor

Jennifer Kadlowec and Allied Health sport and wellness professor Alexander Morgan have a few students from their respective departments that they will mentor throughout the project. Students ranging from first-year students to seniors majoring in engineering, exercise science, pre-athletic training and neuroscience are helping collect and analyze data.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students to get a chance to see first-hand research,” Morgan said.

Morgan said the project will allow students to "see how the body moves in a new way," and take what is learned into a graduate program.