Polysterene. Polysterene. Rachelle oldmixon specialises in rachelle oldmixon specialises in behaviours. Behaviours. Im im phil torres, i study insects phil torres, i study insects in peru. In peru. Thats our team. Thats our team. Lets do some science. Lets do some science. Music ] music ] hi, guy, welcome back to hi, guy, welcome back to techknow. Techknow. Im phil torres, with rochelle, im phil torres, with rochelle, kyle and lindsay. Kyle and lindsay. Kyle, the nfl paid over kyle, the nfl paid over threequarters of a million to threequarters of a million to settle a lawsuit. Settle a lawsuit. What was it about. What was it about. Theres a focus on the theres a focus on the concussion problem. Concussion problem. The nfl has thousands of place, the nfl has thousands of place, and millions of players in youth and millions of players in youth and challenge football. And challenge football. I went to Virginia Tech to look i went to Virginia Tech to look at technology to test helmets at technology to test helmets and track hits on college and and track hits on college and youth players. Youth players. Lets take a look. Lets take a look. Homecoming in the homecoming in the heartland. Heartland. This is cornhusker county. This is cornhusker county. Nebraska university, the nebraska university, the epicentre of college football. Epicentre of college football. First big win. First big win. Along with the tradition of along with the tradition of football come football come the hits. The hits. Cheer cheer cheer cheer big hits like this one in big hits like this one in front of our cameras. Front of our cameras. No one knows how hard the hits no one knows how hard the hits can be better than blake can be better than Blake Lawrence. Lawrence. Former lion former lion backer for nebraska backer for nebraska korn huhs kerrs. Korn huhs kerrs. If korn huhs kerrs. If korn huhs kerrs. If if you had to bang your head you had to bang your head into somebody and that was your into somebody and that was your job, thats your best weapon. Job, thats your best weapon. If they said, go and run and if they said, go and run and smash into the wall, i would do smash into the wall, i would do it for the sport. It for the sport. Blake did it all his life. Blake did it all his life. He started to question it after he started to question it after suffering three concussions. Suffering three concussions. The third, which is the one the third, which is the one where i realised something was where i realised something was wrong, was here. Wrong, was here. It was, oh, and you start it was, oh, and you start to to get dizzy. Get dizzy. Dizzy, foggy. Dizzy, foggy. Yes. Yes. Were. Were. Whats crazy is the coach whats crazy is the coach came up and said, great job, i came up and said, great job, i did my job and had to sacrifices did my job and had to sacrifices my brain to do it. My brain to do it. When a player gets a when a player gets a concussion blow, the brain moves concussion blow, the brain moves rapidly, the brain bouncing rapidly, the brain bouncing around in the skull. Around in the skull. The nfl reports 50 players have the nfl reports 50 players have been sidelined been sidelined by concussions. By concussions. For young place, multiple it by for young place, multiple it by 1,000. 1,000. Each year more than 55,000 kids each year more than 55,000 kids end up in the emergency room for end up in the emergency room for footballrelated concussions. Footballrelated concussions. Local News Coverage of local News Coverage of catastrophic catastrophic head injuresies head injuresies have ramped up. Have ramped up. The High School Player the High School Player collapsed during collapsed during football football practice and died. Practice and died. Football tragedy bringing football tragedy bringing together a small down, together a small down, early. Early. What hits will land a player what hits will land a player in the hospital . Rather than in the hospital . Rather than the end zone. The end zone. How do you reduce a players how do you reduce a players risk of concussion . Risk of concussion . Stefan, stefan, dumer head of Virginia Techs dumer head of Virginia Techs Biomedical Department has been Biomedical Department has been much. Much. The mission is not to end the mission is not to end football, but understand what is football, but understand what is better. Better. Research . Research . We can tell a college player, we can tell a college player, what exposure you have, if you what exposure you have, if you are a are a quarterbacker, lion quarterbacker, lion backer we can tell you what backer we can tell you what the exposure is. The exposure is. That impact simulated that impact simulated 100 gs 100 gs of of slartion on the slartion on the acceleration on the brain. Acceleration on the brain. Is. Is. Thats the kind of force you thats the kind of force you may experience in a serious car may experience in a serious car crash. Crash. So right here on this diagram so right here on this diagram you can see the impacts that you can see the impacts that players are taking. Players are taking. This is how professor this is how professor dumer dumer collects his detat collects his detat with hits, he with hits, he picks up the angle and picks up the angle and acceleration of the head any acceleration of the head any time a time a player is hit. Player is hit. So the system is showing so the system is showing realtime impacts . Realtime impacts . Basically within a basically within a couple couple of seconds of the impact it of seconds of the impact it comes into the antenna and we comes into the antenna and we can see live what happens to the can see live what happens to the players. Players. You can plot this out through you can plot this out through a practice or on entire season. A practice or on entire season. We were one of the first we were one of the first teams to limit exposure and teams to limit exposure and practices. Practices. We had data saying we are we had data saying we are getting really high exposure and getting really high exposure and practice. Practice. The data allowed us to see that. The data allowed us to see that. In 2011 Virginia Tech teamed in 2011 Virginia Tech teamed up with youth leagues to up with youth leagues to Research Young players as well. Research Young Players as well. I dont think anyone expected i dont think anyone expected the exposure numbers that we the exposure numbers that we found. Found. From the first from the first grade to seven, grade to seven, 78yearold teams, the average 78yearold teams, the average impacts is 150 per season per impacts is 150 per season per player, some 80 times the player, some 80 times the acceleration acceleration of gravity. Of gravity. Again . Again . 10yearold ryan is a young 10yearold ryan is a young player Virginia Tech is player Virginia Tech is studying. Studying. He suffered a head injury in a he suffered a head injury in a running deal. Running deal. Dr mark rogers, a Team Physician dr mark rogers, a Team Physician for the hoekies is giving a for the hoekies is giving a follow up exam. Follow up exam. Eight eight to 10yearolds are to 10yearolds are getting a lot of hits, some getting a lot of hits, some pretty good gforce. Pretty good gforce. Gs. Gs. Its dangerous. Its dangerous. Its high. Its high. A lot of stuff generates a lot of stuff generates changes. Changes. They are not doing a lot of head they are not doing a lot of head to head contacts or hitting to head contacts or hitting drills during the week. Drills during the week. The fact that he may have had a the fact that he may have had a concussion does to give you concussion does to give you reservations about football. Reservations about football. When your children get when your children get injured it makes you think. Injured it makes you think. As long as you have programs as long as you have programs like this, where people are like this, where people are trying to help and making sure trying to help and making sure the kids stay as safe as the kids stay as safe as approximately. Approximately. I wouldnt hesitate putting the i wouldnt hesitate putting the play. Play. That would be his decision. That would be his decision. Professor dumis is trying to professor dumis is trying to make make the game safer. The game safer. Create safer helmets. Create safer helmets. Front, side, back, top front, side, back, top impacts. Impacts. For every for every test we multiply test we multiply that that by how many times the players by how many times the players sees that in a year. Sees that in a year. Everything comes together, everything comes together, giving you a star rating. Giving you a star rating. The helmets absorb energy the helmets absorb energy better, lower acceleration, better, lower acceleration, lowering risk. Lowering risk. You have what looks like a you have what looks like a helmet canon. Helmet canon. What is this what is this modelling different modelling different from the other test . From the other test . We are going away from the we are going away from the single linear drop. Single linear drop. We know every head impact has we know every head impact has linear rotation. Linear rotation. You have energy input. You have energy input. This task the head can rotate this task the head can rotate and slide away. And slide away. Three, two, one, go. Three, two, one, go. Remember this remember this 100 g hit . 100 g hit . Professor professor dumis has dumis has a 5star a 5star helmet reducing it bias much as helmet reducing it bias much as 50 , thats because the 50 , thats because the shell shell riskful. Riskful. There are helmets that reduce there are helmets that reduce your risk. Your risk. Like 5star cars reduce your like 5star cars reduce your risk of dying in a car crash. Risk of dying in a car crash. As for Blake Lawrence, the as for Blake Lawrence, the risks of the game that he had, risks of the game that he had, decision. Decision. Our head coach said, your our head coach said, your concussions are happening too concussions are happening too easily. Easily. That summer, before my junior that summer, before my junior ner at nebraska, i told myself ner at nebraska, i told myself and my family and the coaches and my family and the coaches and doctors if i had one more and doctors if i had one more concussion, no matter the concussion, no matter the circumstances, circumstances, id step away id step away from the sport of football. From the sport of football. It was easy to say, not it was easy to say, not do. Do. Looking at that peerks looking at that peerks watching it, i piece, just watching it, i piece, just watching it, i feel that gave me watching it, i feel that gave me a head ache. A head ache. Rachelle, you have a rachelle, you have a background in neuroscience, what background in neuroscience, what damage are we looking at with a damage are we looking at with a big collision . Big collision . Thats interesting. Thats interesting. There are thousands of there are thousands of researchers across the country researchers across the country trying to figure it out. Trying to figure it out. Some believe theres sheering some believe theres sheering happening at the ends of happening at the ends of neuropathways so the connections neuropathways so the connections between the different parts of between the different parts of the brain are weaker. The brain are weaker. Peopler thinking that you get peopler thinking that you get tears in the tissue which would tears in the tissue which would weaken the structure and weaken the structure and function. Function. Theres the idea of bruising and theres the idea of bruising and temporary damage through temporary damage through swelling. Swelling. Theres a lot. Theres a lot. Theres a lot. Theres a lot. Yes. Yes. And a lot of it is temporary. And a lot of it is temporary. But some of it, you but some of it, you know, could know, could be serious. Be serious. I want my kids to watch. I want my kids to watch. My 8yearold want to play my 8yearold want to play football. Football. Its huge. Its huge. Ive been trying to explain to ive been trying to explain to him the danger involved. Him the danger involved. As a mum its hard for me to as a mum its hard for me to watch the shots of the impact. Watch the shots of the impact. What will we see next . I what will we see next . I imagine its an interesting hat imagine its an interesting hat that you are putting on. That you are putting on. Next i put on what i deemed next i put on what i deemed the science the science acto pus to look acto pus to look at octopus to look at my at octopus to look at my brain waves and get a look at brain waves and get a look at the root of what a concussion the root of what a concussion looks like. Looks like. We want to hear what you we want to hear what you think about the stories. Think about the stories. Join the conversation by join the conversation by following us on twitter and following us on twitter and the stream is uniquely the stream is uniquely interactive television. Interactive television. In fact, we depend on you, your in fact, we depend on you, your ideas, your concerns. Ideas, your concerns. All these folks are making a all these folks are making a whole lot of money. Whole lot of money. You are one of the voices of you are one of the voices of this show. This show. I think youve offended i think youve offended everyone with that kathy. Everyone with that kathy. Hold on, theres some room to hold on, theres some room to offend people, im here. Offend people, im here. We have a right to know we have a right to know whats in our food and monsanto whats in our food and monsanto do not have the right to hide it do not have the right to hide it from us. From us. So join the conversation and so join the conversation and make it your own. Make it your own. Watch the stream. Watch the stream. And join the conversation and join the conversation online ajamstream. Online ajamstream. Al Jazeera America is growing al Jazeera America is growing and now more americans are and now more americans are getting the high quality, getting the high quality, original, indepth reporting original, indepth reporting al Jazeera America is known for. Al Jazeera America is known for. To find out more about to find out more about al Jazeera America go al Jazeera America go to aljazeera. Com to aljazeera. Com [ music ] [ music ] hi. Hi. Welcome back. Welcome back. Kyle, we are about to get more kyle, we are about to get more indepth on the concussion piece. Indepth on the concussion piece. What do you have next for us . What do you have next for us . Now well look at what now well look at what happens neurologically. Happens neurologically. I put on 266 censors on my head i put on 266 censors on my head and took a hard test to and took a hard test to determine it. Determine it. Lets take a look. Lets take a look. Its game day at memorial its game day at memorial stadium, the huskers are taking stadium, the huskers are taking on illinois. On illinois. This stadium house is more than this stadium house is more than 90,000 plus fans, its home to a 90,000 plus fans, its home to a concussion. Concussion. We have cuttingedge we have cuttingedge techniques in the facility where techniques in the facility where the athletes are training. The athletes are training. Dennis is the director of the dennis is the director of the new center for brain, biology new center for brain, biology and behaviour. And behaviour. Why is it hard to figure out why is it hard to figure out what a cop what a cop kugs is . Kugs is . Now its scribed in terms now its scribed in terms of described in terms of of described in terms of simply torches head ache. Simply torches head ache. Sleep, memory functions. Sleep, memory functions. We are unable to identify what we are unable to identify what the disruption is. The disruption is. I want to put the towel on i want to put the towel on the neck. The neck. This tap, a denser ray this tap, a denser ray inselfa la gram or dee is a inselfa la gram or dee is a piece of Technology Used to piece of Technology Used to unlock the mysteries. Unlock the mysteries. Ill call this the science ill call this the science acto pus. Acto pus. The cap has the cap has 256 electrodes in 256 electrodes in it picking up on currents going it picking up on currents going over the scalp that are over the scalp that are generated from the brain. Generated from the brain. The brain waves have information the brain waves have information about your about your memory processies, memory processies, decision making, speed of decision making, speed of processing, what different areas processing, what different areas are engaged to do anything. Are engaged to do anything. A bit more wetness than i a bit more wetness than i thought. Thought. Huss kerrs who volunteer to huss kerrs who volunteer to be a part of ramp be a part of ramp undergo an eet undergo an eet while doing a memory test. While doing a memory test. This one i have to identify this one i have to identify which letters in a sequence which letters in a sequence match match one two shots earlier. One two shots earlier. When it matches use button when it matches use button number one, when it doesnt, number one, when it doesnt, press four. Press four. They are going fast. They are going fast. We think the cap is a we think the cap is a critical way of assessing critical way of assessing whether a concussion whether a concussion occurred. Occurred. You are also you are also using brain using brain scans and other technologies. Scans and other technologies. We can collect mri data, we can collect mri data, other data, mri gives us other data, mri gives us information about structure of information about structure of the brain and we can look at the brain and we can look at way. Way. The images are from a the images are from a Football Player without a Football Player without a concussion, and show changes in concussion, and show changes in brainwave brainwave activity as a player activity as a player distinguishes between a mat