LabTAU seminar-Shaken not shocked; how blast waves induce brain injury

Author: Robin Cleveland (Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford)
Summary: Traumatic brain injury has been reportedly widely in the press with respect to athletes subject to head impact and military personnel subject to blast waves.  In the case of direct impact there is a typically an acute response, concussion, which can lead to chronic injury to the brain that develops over months and years.  The chronic injury manifests itself in issues with memory, mood, and attention.  In the case of blast waves there is typically no concussion and yet the chronic brain injury has remarkably similarities.  Here we use numerical models and experiments with mice to compare injury induced by blast waves and impact.  It is shown that the direct passage of sound energy from the blast wave into the brain tissue does not induce injury or affect memory.  Rather it is the oscillation of the head, due to the radiation pressure from the blast wave, that induces shear forces which result in the injury that affects memory.
Time: 11:00
Place: Salle de conference 151 cours albert Thomas 69003 Lyon