Concussions have been a hot topic in recent years, with more and more evidence coming to light of the harmful and long-term consequences that result. The most popular definition of concussion is “any disturbance in brain function caused by a direct or indirect force to the head. It manifests itself with a variety of non-specific symptoms and often does not lead to loss of consciousness." One of the main problems was being able to accurately diagnose concussion and assign its severity. There is currently no classification system that has sufficient evidentiary support to accurately diagnose severity. The current most popular diagnostic method is based on observation and self-reporting of symptoms by people who have suffered a concussion. As Professor Franck said in his lecture, nearly two million people suffer traumatic brain injuries every year, resulting in a high price tag of $60 billion. While athletes may be the most popular victims of concussions, concussions can happen to anyone. Something like falling down the stairs or out of bed could cause more damage than you initially thought. Much new research points to unanticipated future consequences of concussions, and if there is an accurate medical diagnosis, symptoms are easier to manage. Concussions are a very broad injury that can happen to anyone, from young to old, and for this reason more research is needed to understand the extent of the effects. There is a possibility that death or disability will result in an untreated or ignored concussion. However, current methods to diagnose exist and range from very simple to technologically complex. There are methods of computer-assisted analysis, artificial imaging to track biological changes, mental and physical tests, as well as simply a simple observation by a doctor or qualified professional about the mental and physical state of the person suffering from a concussion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay While there are broad-spectrum diagnostic methods, some researchers look to smaller cells to predict concussions. In his lecture, Professor Christian Franck talks about using computer-aided imaging and mechanical engineering to be able to see secondary lesions in the brain. These biological responses to injury are much more difficult to detect and require the use of sophisticated software. Research has found that the compression and strain of an impact will affect neurons and cause the production of several proteins that indicate damage. The program sought to develop predictive simulations for traumatic brain injury using data found from biological tests. It would be a computer model capable of predicting the outcome of injuries based on the impact and the amount of effort and stress it would cause to the neurons. A database could be created and cross-referenced to help understand severity as well. This would allow for better diagnosis immediately after contact. If it is possible to match a simulation already performed with the impact on the person, there is a good chance of obtaining an accurate diagnosis with more technical evidence to support it. Automated imaging can also be used, usually to monitor biological changes. . The pathophysiological changes that the body undergoes after trauma to the brain were measured. Markers such as altered conductivity can be tracedof the neural membrane, glucose metabolism, or a change in cerebral blood flow. These changes are not yet well understood and much data comes from animal testing, but human testing may occur in the future. These would be monitored using medical imaging. While better-known tests such as MRI and CT scans can be helpful in identifying fractures or hemorrhages in the brain, they are not very helpful in diagnosing a concussion. However, a different test called functional MRI (fMRI) may be helpful. These tests can track magnetic differences in the blood based on how much oxygen is present and use it to find differences in cortical networks. fMRIs detected differences between cortical networks in concussed individuals compared to their baseline level. A quantitative EEG has been promoted as something that could detect changes in post-concussion physiology. This is a method where you would need baseline data beforehand, so you can compare post-concussion data to it. The researchers used Shannon entropy of peak frequency shift to analyze the EEGs and observed reduced values ​​in multiple parts of the brain. The differences in the EEGs had disappeared forty-five days after the concussion. Technologies such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) could also be useful for mapping the brain. As the name suggests, this machine uses the electrical impulse of neurons to track changes in the magnetic field to give us a picture. MEG is less distorted by physical obstacles, such as hair, so it can provide better maps of the brain based on electrical activity. The disadvantages of these methods would be that they are expensive and difficult to use in a non-medical context. Mental baseline tests such as the King-Devick (KD) instrument are widely used to evaluate concussions in schools and organized sports. This measures the speed of rapid number naming by asking participants to read three different-looking number cards as quickly as possible. These trials are then timed and averaged taking errors into account. The Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is also a computer-based visual assessment that inputs results onto the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale. This is a combination of other methods and no reliability reports have been made yet. The SCAT involves both short-term and long-term recall tests and goes a little deeper than a KD test. A more physical test is called a modified repeated high-intensity endurance test (RHIET). The RHIET found a statistically significant difference in pre- and post-test KD scores, indicating that the KD would be lower if taken immediately after an athlete was taken out of action for testing. Even with this slight disadvantage, the KD successfully identified asymptomatic players who still had a concussion. New Zealand researchers conducted a study where they combined these three things to test them in a rugby league. They asked athletes being evaluated to fill out a pre-assessment that consisted of a history of concussions, a baseline post-concussive symptom scale, and two KD tests, where fasting was the score that mattered toward the baseline. basic. Part of the study required medical clearance to return to play, which is very important for recovery. The study's positive results are promising in championship sports. The downside is that it may only be applicable in championship sports, as baseline testing is needed to be able to compare post-concussion data. However, this would allow the.