When trying to comprehend concussions, nothing is more important than understanding the science behind them. Because of this, I want to take a minute to discuss the brain itself and the lobes of the brain that are most affected by concussions.
The frontal lobe (the part of the brain located at the front of the head) and the temporal lobes (located around the temples) typically incur the most damage from concussions.
But why is this? Wouldn’t the way the head is hit determine which parts of the brain get hurt?
Actually, the answer to this question is no and this is why.The front of the head, where the frontal lobe sits, and the sides of the head where the temporal lobes exist are not braced for impact and thus most susceptible to movement and injury. As a result, the front and sides of the head gain the most speed when the head swings on the neck and strikes the skull with the most force.
When a person is struck in the front of the head, the facial bones act almost like an airbag to cushion the blow to the back of the head, making the front of the brain the biggest issue. When the head is struck in the back, the head swiftly stops but the brain keeps moving (in the same way that you hit the side of the car when it turns quickly), causing the brain to hit the back of the head. However, the problem often lies in the front, as this relocation to the back of the skull causes decompression in the front, which may result in brain leakage or hemorrhage in the frontal lobe. As a result, even though the back of the brain made initial contact, the frontal and temporal lobes (which are both towards the front of the brain) sustain the damage.
Now that the area of effect is clear, it is important to understand just what both the frontal and temporal lobes do:
• The frontal lobe is responsible for an individual’s personality. It is in charge of qualities such as decision making, emotions, and verbal expressions.
• The temporal lobes primarily take care of memory functions. They manage qualities such as spoken word, identification, categorization, and facial recognition.
Once again, the risk is clear; we all know how important both personality and memory are in our daily lives, so the mere thought of losing them is chilling. I urge you to once again ask yourself, “Do I want to compromise my individualism and memories for a couple nights of glory out on the football field?”
Personality and recollection are two crucial parts of the human experience; the way we interact with others, and the way we recall those interactions that make up who we are as people. I truly hope that anyone who plays football or knows someone who plays football will recognize this and will take the time to think about that choice.
If you experienced a concussion as the result of someone’s negligence, you have to call me immediately at 1 (800) 556-4769 to discuss your injury. If your traumatic brain injury could have been prevented, I will help you get the answers you deserve.
As your Ohio brain injury lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.
