Computational Modeling of the Human Brain for mTBI Prediction and Diagnosis

Sports related concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries have seen an increase in frequency over the past decade. The creation of highly biofidelic computational head models is an important step in understanding the mechanisms of these mild brain injuries and preventing them. Hence, the purpose of this research is to combine state-of-the-art computational models, brain imaging modalities and traditional head injury assessment protocols to simulate and predict the brains responses during traumatic head impacts. A novel, atlas-based, parcellated axon fiber embedded head model was developed which allows for in-depth analysis of the brain’s structural connectome tracts for injury diagnosis and analysis. New axon strain metrics were developed along with traditional head kinematic methodologies to create one of the most advanced finite element head models for concussion injury reconstruction which allows for comparison to patient symptoms through tract injury level prediction