Researcher investigates how concussion history, sex differences and more contribute to game-changing effects of mild traumatic brain injuries
When playing sports, it's important to remember: Brains don't have seat belts. And when rapid acceleration or deceleration of the brain inside the skull occurs with a blow to the head, a concussion happens, which, in some cases, can lead to lasting impacts to motor and cognitive skills needed to keep athletes at the top of their game.
"You can think of concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries, as a software problem more than a hardware problem," said Susan Mingils, PhD, a research services senior professional in physical medicine and rehabilitation at CU Anschutz. "It's more about looking at how the brain is processing information and functioning at that cellular level rather than these obvious structural changes you see in moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries."
Mingils was part of a study looking at how concussions impact reaction time - vital to athletes' performance and safety. In the following Q&A, she explains how concussions are diagnosed, the challenges scientists face in studying them and what the research showed when looking at reaction times, sex differences and recovery.
