1. Concussions Models and Evidence Continue

2. With your partner, read through the slides to learn about concussions. Remember, read carefully so you are able to answer questions. Whenever you have a discussion, try to agree on both your answers and your reasons with your partner! BackContinue

3. Introduction: BackContinue A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by a blow to the head. Athletes, such as football players, sometimes get concussions during games and practices. People can also get concussions from falls, car crashes, and biking accidents. Problem: What happens to the brain after a concussion? Scientists want to find out what happens to the brain when a person gets a concussion.

4. Right now scientists have two main models that explain what happens to people after they have a concussion. Their models are on the next slide. BackContinue

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6. Now you’ll see some evidence to help you decide which model is better. Don’t forget to read carefully so you can answer questions about the evidence! When answering questions, be sure to try to agree on both your answers and reasons. BackContinue

7. Evidence 1 BackContinue Scientists have found that many people have trouble remembering some things after a concussion. They often forget what happened before or after they hit their head. In addition, in one study, scientists found that 71% of athletes who got concussions had headaches in the first day after the concussion.

8. Think about how this evidence relates to each of the models that you have seen. On your sheet, draw in the arrow that you think best connects this evidence to each of the models. Draw your arrow for Model A in the first column and your arrow for Model B in the second column. Question 1 and 2: Arrows BackContinue

9. Answer these 2 questions about Evidence 1. Write the letter of your best answer on your green sheet. Be sure to discuss your answers and your reasons with your partner. BackContinue Be sure to put your letter of your answer in the answers diagram on the sheet after you have discussed your answers and your reasons. Question 3: Based on the evidence, after a concussion people forget: a. everything from before and after the concussion b. nothing from before or after the concussion c. some of what happened before and after the concussion d. some of what happened before and none of what happened after the concussion Question 4: What might cause a person to have a concussion? a. Tripping down the stairs b. Getting into a car crash c. Falling off a chair while sleeping d. All of the above

10. Evidence 2 BackContinue Neurologists (scientists who study the brain) studied the brains of 20 two-year-old rats with serious concussions one year after their concussion. They used brain scanning machines to look at the brain tissue. They found that these rats had some damaged brain tissue with dead brain cells. The neurologists also examined the brain tissue of 20 three-year- old rats that had not had any concussions. These rats did not have damaged brain tissue with dead brain cells. In the picture, the left image shows a small piece of brain tissue from a typical rat that had not had any concussions, and the right image shows a small piece of brain tissue from a typical rat that had had a serious concussion. Brain tissue from rat without concussions Brain tissue from rat with concussions

11. Think about how this evidence relates to each of the models that you have seen. On your sheet, draw in the arrow that you think best connects this evidence to each of the models. Draw your arrow for Model A in the first column and your arrow for Model B in the second column. Question 1 and 2: Arrows BackContinue

12. Answer these 2 questions about Evidence 2. Write the letter of your best answer on your green sheet. Be sure to discuss your answers and your reasons with your partner. Be sure to put your letter of your answer in the answers diagram on the sheet after you have discussed your answers and your reasons. BackContinue Question 3: The scientists studied 20 rats that had had concussions: a. 10 years before the study b. about 4 years before the study c. a year before the study d. just before the study Question 4: What did the scientists find in the brains of the rats with concussions? a. Healthy brain cells b. Strong brain cells c. Weak brain cells d. Damaged brain cells

13. Evidence 3 BackContinue Scientists examined the brains of one two-year-old rat before and after it received a mild concussion. They used brain imaging machines to take pictures of the rat’s brain. The pictures show the electrical activity of the brain cells before and in the minutes following the concussion. In the pictures, the dark spots indicate locations of high electrical activity. Point of concussion (impact)

14. Think about how this evidence relates to each of the models that you have seen. On your sheet, draw in the arrow that you think best connects this evidence to each of the models. Draw your arrow for Model A in the first column and your arrow for Model B in the second column. Question 1 and 2: Arrows BackContinue

15. Answer these 2 questions about Evidence 3. Write the letter of your best answer on your green sheet. Be sure to discuss your answers and your reasons with your partner. BackContinue Be sure to put your letter of your answer in the answers diagram on the sheet after you have discussed your answers and your reasons. Question 3: At what times were pictures taken of the brain? a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 minutes after the concussion. b. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 minutes after the concussion. c. Before the concussion, right when the concussion occurred, and then 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 minutes after the concussion. d. Before the concussion, then 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 minutes after the discussion. Question 4: In the images, high electrical activity is indicated by: a. dark color b. white color c. gray color d. no color

16. Evidence 4 BackContinue Scientists studied the effects of a drug called Naloxone on cats that had suffered concussions. Naloxone is a drug that helps get more blood flowing through blood vessels in the brain. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to brain cells. It is important that there is enough blood flowing through the brain vessels so that the brain cells can live. The scientists studied 26 cats. 13 cats had serious concussions, and these cats were given Naloxone 60 minutes after their concussions. 13 cats had serious concussions, and these cats were given no drugs after their concussions. The table below shows the blood flow to brain cells in each group of cats. Before having a concussion 45 minutes after the concussion 90 minutes after the concussion Cats with concussions that got Naloxone. Normal blood flowVery low blood flowNormal blood flow Cats with concussions that got no drug Normal blood flowVery low blood flow

17. Think about how this evidence relates to each of the models that you have seen. On your sheet, draw in the arrow that you think best connects this evidence to each of the models. Draw your arrow for Model A in the first column and your arrow for Model B in the second column. Question 1 and 2: Arrows BackContinue

18. Answer these 2 questions about Evidence 4. Write the letter of your best answer on your green sheet. Be sure to discuss your answers and your reasons with your partner. Question 3: What was given to the cats in this study? a. A drug that decreases blood flow b. A drug that increases blood flow c. A drug for cats with heart problems d. A drug for cats with memory problems Question 4: What was compared in this study? a. Cats with concussions and cats without concussions b. Cats that took Naloxone with cats that were healthy c. Cats with concussions and cats without concussions that took Naloxone d. Cats with concussions that took naloxone and cats with concussions that did not take Naloxone BackContinue Be sure to put your letter of your answer in the answers diagram on the sheet after you have discussed your answers and your reasons.

19. Nowait for your teacher’s instruc w wait for your teacher’s instructions. Back