Summary

Catalina Elwonger is a PhD student in Neuroscience and Human Performance at Indiana University. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Houston Christian University, where she also played Division I soccer until the spring of her junior year. After experiencing multiple concussions, Catalina was medically disqualified from the sport. Although the physical symptoms eventually resolved, she struggled to feel like herself again in social and emotional situations — an experience that deeply shaped her academic and research path.

Catalina's research focuses on how repetitive head impacts affect social cognition and mental health. Her current work uses The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT) to examine how individuals with a history of multiple mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) interpret emotions, sarcasm, and social cues. She is particularly interested in how subtle impairments in social understanding influence a person’s ability to maintain relationships, engage in their community, and preserve a strong sense of self.

While the effects of severe brain injuries are well established, Catalina is passionate about addressing the gaps in research around repeated, milder head injuries. These injuries often go unrecognized, yet can significantly impact quality of life. Her goal is to increase awareness of these issues and contribute to more comprehensive, human-centered care for those affected.