What Happens in the Brain After a Concussion

New scientific studies have shown what specifically happens to the brain when it is impacted by a concussion. For a long time, scientists have had great difficulty with observing the brain because of the thickness of the skull. Similarily, if one were to open the skull, the readings would no longer be accurate. But the scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke have been able to uncover better observations of the brain simply by shaving the skull so that it is thin enough for microscopic lenses to be able to look through it. These new discoveries have found that brain damage occurs when the membranes surrounding the brain are destroyed, and specialized immune cells are released to the brain. However, these cells take a long time to reach the brain, and many brain cells die off by the time the cells reach the brain. Through this study, scientists may be able to understand concussions better, and be better prepared to aid someone who has one.
Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/what-happens-in-the-brain-after-a-concussion/?ref=science&_r=0