Concussion testing
The most objective concussion test available — and the window is closing
CT and MRI scans usually come back normal after a concussion. Ocular motor testing measures brain function directly, takes about 30 minutes, and is available same-day at 50+ locations.
What is the best concussion test?
No blood test or scan confirms a concussion. The most objective option available today is ocular motor testing — measuring how precisely your eyes move. A concussion disrupts the cranial nerves that control eye movement, and that disruption is measurable even when a CT or MRI looks completely normal. It is scored across three domains and read by a board-certified neurologist.
Compare the options
Why imaging usually misses a concussion
Each test answers a different question. Only one of them measures function.
| Test | What it measures | Detects mTBI? | Objective? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT scan | Bleeding, swelling, skull fracture | Rarely — usually normal | Yes, but for the wrong target |
| MRI | Brain structure and soft tissue | Rarely — usually normal | Yes, but for the wrong target |
| Symptom questionnaire | What you report feeling | Suggestive only | No — self-reported |
| Ocular motor testing | How precisely the eyes move | Yes — while the window is open | Yes |
This is why so many concussions are missed: the emergency department rules out the dangerous structural injuries, the scan comes back clean, and the patient is discharged being told they are fine. 56% of mTBI diagnoses are missed in the ED.
How it works
What the test actually measures
Three domains of eye movement, scored separately. Normal and abnormal results are clearly separable.
Example scores: normal vs abnormal
| Domain | Normal | Abnormal |
|---|---|---|
| Pursuits | 88 | 19 |
| Saccades | 79 | 5 |
| Fixations | 97 | 26 |
Illustrative scores. Every report is interpreted by a board-certified neurologist rather than scored automatically.
Why this cannot be faked
Smooth pursuit, saccadic accuracy and fixation stability are involuntary. You cannot consciously produce an impaired trace, and you cannot suppress one either — which is what separates this from a symptom questionnaire, where the answers are whatever the patient reports.
That property is why the result carries weight with a treating physician or in a claim, and why the timing matters so much: the involuntary signal fades as the brain compensates.
Timing
Why you should not wait
Day 0 — injury
The mechanism does not have to be dramatic. Whiplash counts. Losing consciousness is not required.
Within 3 weeks — the window
Oculomotor findings are at their most detectable. This is when testing produces the clearest answer.
Day 60 — motility improves
The brain compensates and the objective marker begins to fade, even if symptoms persist.
Day 126+ — typical specialist visit
Most patients first see a neurologist here, by which point the evidence has often normalised.
Who should be tested
We recommend testing anyone with symptoms
After a vehicle accident
After a sports collision
After a fall
Warning signs worth testing for
Cognitive
Emotional
Physical
Sleep
The anatomy
Why the eyes reveal what scans cannot
The cranial nerves that control eye movement travel a long path from the brainstem to the eye socket. Three features make them unusually vulnerable to a concussion:
A long, exposed route leaves them open to injury along its whole length. Confined bony passages make them susceptible to microcompression. And a fragile blood supply exposes them to transient ischemic injury.
Damage anywhere along that path degrades the precision of eye movement in ways a person cannot consciously fake or mask — which is exactly what makes the measurement objective.
Common questions
Concussion testing, answered
What is the best test for a concussion?
There is no single blood test or scan that confirms a concussion. The most objective option available today is ocular motor testing, which measures how precisely your eyes move. A concussion disrupts the cranial nerves that control eye movement, and that disruption is measurable even when imaging looks completely normal. It is scored across three domains — pursuits, saccades and fixations — and read by a neurologist.
Will a CT scan or MRI show a concussion?
Usually not. CT and MRI scans are excellent at finding bleeding, swelling and skull fractures, which is why emergency departments use them. But a concussion is a functional injury rather than a structural one, so most mild traumatic brain injuries produce unremarkable imaging. A normal CT or MRI does not mean you did not sustain a concussion.
How soon after a head injury should I be tested?
As soon as possible, and ideally within three weeks. The involuntary eye-movement changes that make the diagnosis objective fade as the brain compensates. Testing within three weeks substantially increases the probability of detecting them. The typical wait for a neurology appointment is past day 126 — long after the evidence has gone.
How long does the test take, and does it hurt?
Plan for about 30 minutes, which covers the test itself and the paperwork. It is completely non-invasive — no needles, no radiation, no dye. You look at targets on a screen while the equipment records how your eyes move.
Can I get tested if I did not lose consciousness?
Yes, and you should. Most concussions involve no loss of consciousness at all. You also do not need to have hit your head directly — whiplash alone can cause one, because the injury comes from the brain moving inside the skull.
Where can I get a concussion test?
NeuroGlympse provides same-day testing across more than 50 locations via teleneurology, so you are not waiting months for a specialist appointment. Call (504) 370-3910 or enroll online and our care team will confirm the nearest location and time.
What do I get afterwards?
A report interpreted by a board-certified neurologist — not an automated score. It documents what was measured, what it means, and what should happen next, and it can be shared with your treating physician or your attorney.
How much does it cost?
It depends on your coverage and circumstances. We accept Letters of Protection and limited up-front deposits for services. Contact our intake team before your appointment and we will set the arrangement up.
Get tested while the window is still open
Same-day appointments across 50+ locations, about 30 minutes, read by a board-certified neurologist. Letters of Protection accepted.