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A medical definition of a concussion is a compression and contusion of
the brain caused by blunt force applied to the cranium.
Concussions are blunt force trauma to the brain but what are the specific regions which are affected by a concussion and how specifically do the come about? Concussions happen from the angular deceleration of the skull causing to the anterior and posterior planes to hit the inside of the skull. This results in a bruising of the anterior and posterior planes from a pivot point at the upper brain stem. Also the frontal and temporal lobes are greatly affected because they are butted up right against the bone of the skull which is very tough and ridged. Also because the neck is attached to the skull in the rear of the skull the front of the head moves the greatest distance than the rest causing higher acceleration and vulnerability to high impact blows. The frontal lobes influence personality, planning, initiating, organizing, and the kind of things that are high level cognitive functions and personality features largely. “The temporal lobes are involved primarily in language functions and certain language functions. And so if certain parts of the temporal lobes are damaged, then memory functions either for verbal memory in the left hemisphere and non-verbal visual memory in the right hemisphere can be adversely affected and injured even permanently if the injury is severe enough.” When the brain is struck with blunt force causes brain cells to depolarize and neurotransmitters all fire which in turn create an over flooding of a chemical which kills receptors. The chemicals most affect receptors which are in charge of memory and interpreting information.
In a study done by Sports Illustrated Magazine fMRI’s were taken of a football player before, during, and post season. The study showed compared to the preseason to near the end of the season, brain activity was drastically reduced. Brain activity was regained postseason. The fMRI’s also showed that brain activity was mostly reduced in the frontal lobe area. In another NFL sponsored study conducted by scientists at Purdue found out it takes on average 80 G’s of force to cause a concussion for a comparison the head endures 20 G’s when heading a soccer ball. When they brought this information to the field they found that hits measuring over 100 G’s were common at an average practice. At the highest point a player blocking for a point after attempt received a blow equal to 289 G’s that is more than three times the amount need to receive a standard concussion (Epstein 44)! This suggests that the majority of concussions that are sports related go unaccounted for. This leaves players even more vulnerable to more lethal repercussions. In an interview with professional linebacker Ray Lewis says that every time he takes on a fullback he probably gets a concussion, he says that it is just football and those types of head to head hits are a part of football.
Concussions are blunt force trauma to the brain but what are the specific regions which are affected by a concussion and how specifically do the come about? Concussions happen from the angular deceleration of the skull causing to the anterior and posterior planes to hit the inside of the skull. This results in a bruising of the anterior and posterior planes from a pivot point at the upper brain stem. Also the frontal and temporal lobes are greatly affected because they are butted up right against the bone of the skull which is very tough and ridged. Also because the neck is attached to the skull in the rear of the skull the front of the head moves the greatest distance than the rest causing higher acceleration and vulnerability to high impact blows. The frontal lobes influence personality, planning, initiating, organizing, and the kind of things that are high level cognitive functions and personality features largely. “The temporal lobes are involved primarily in language functions and certain language functions. And so if certain parts of the temporal lobes are damaged, then memory functions either for verbal memory in the left hemisphere and non-verbal visual memory in the right hemisphere can be adversely affected and injured even permanently if the injury is severe enough.” When the brain is struck with blunt force causes brain cells to depolarize and neurotransmitters all fire which in turn create an over flooding of a chemical which kills receptors. The chemicals most affect receptors which are in charge of memory and interpreting information.
In a study done by Sports Illustrated Magazine fMRI’s were taken of a football player before, during, and post season. The study showed compared to the preseason to near the end of the season, brain activity was drastically reduced. Brain activity was regained postseason. The fMRI’s also showed that brain activity was mostly reduced in the frontal lobe area. In another NFL sponsored study conducted by scientists at Purdue found out it takes on average 80 G’s of force to cause a concussion for a comparison the head endures 20 G’s when heading a soccer ball. When they brought this information to the field they found that hits measuring over 100 G’s were common at an average practice. At the highest point a player blocking for a point after attempt received a blow equal to 289 G’s that is more than three times the amount need to receive a standard concussion (Epstein 44)! This suggests that the majority of concussions that are sports related go unaccounted for. This leaves players even more vulnerable to more lethal repercussions. In an interview with professional linebacker Ray Lewis says that every time he takes on a fullback he probably gets a concussion, he says that it is just football and those types of head to head hits are a part of football.