Applications of Experimental Head Injury Research *

The types and mechanisms of head injury are reviewed, and then the findings of a UCLA study on the electrophysiology of primate concussion is presented.

It was found that g loadings, as measured by a triaxial accelerometer attached to the skull of an impacted monkey, correlated well with severity of concussion. Deep and superficial cerebral electrodes were implanted to monitor electroencephalographic and impedance changes after concussion.

Resistance dropped and capacitance rose in the impedance electrodes in direct proportion to the severity of concussion. Deep electroencephalographic recordings showed a high amplitude low frequency charfge in the reticular formation areas after impact. Superficial electroencephalographic recordings did not correlate with clinical states.

Applications of these data are presented as they relate to the prevention and treatment of head injury.