HITS

Head Impact Telemetry System

Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) and Sideline Response System. Working with collaborators in BME and Neurosurgery, we are looking at the imaging correlates of traumatic brain injuries in football players. This study uses sensors that measure head acceleration into the helmets of Wake Forest University (WFU) varsity football players. By identifying the factors of an impact that affect TBI, the design of protective devices can be improved and treatments can be specialized based on the mechanism of injury. Information about the biomechanical characteristics of TBI in sports has the potential to contribute to other fields of research such as military protection and motor vehicle safety mechanisms.

Principal Investigator: 
Joel Stitzel, PhD

Investigators and Personnel:
Joseph A. Maldjian, MD
Alex Powers
Daryl Rosenbaum, MD
Christopher Thomas Whitlow, MD, PhD, MHA

KIDS

Kinematics of Impact Data Set

This is a collaboration with School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, and Virginia Tech. This study will instrument and map the head impact exposure of youth football players for all age groups from 6 years through 18 years. This program will consist of over 240 instrumented helmets on six different football teams in Virginia and North Carolina. It is anticipated that this research program will greatly enhance the understanding of child brain biomechanics and will lead to improvements in youth practice and game techniques as well as the development of improved helmets specifically designed for children. The study is the first of its kind to look at the full age spectrum from age 6 to 18.

Principal Investigator: 
Joel Stitzel, PhD

Investigators and Personnel:
Stefan Duma
Joseph A. Maldjian, MD
Elizabeth (Moody) Davenport
Alex Powers
Daryl Rosenbaum, MD
Christopher Thomas Whitlow, MD, PhD, MHA

SIMON

Development of a novel method of semi-automated landmark identification to allow for the creation of mapping functions that describe changes of the brain with age with regard to structure. This will ultimately be beneficial in the understanding of how the morphology of the brain is correlated to the biomechanics and functional outcome of brain injury.

Principal Investigator: 
Joel Stitzel, PhD

Investigators and Personnel:
Joseph A. Maldjian, MD
Jillian Urban
Publications: 1 found

ToM

Theory of Mind

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to use other people's beliefs to understand and predict their behavior as well as to modulate one’s own behavior. The purpose of this study is to determine if Theory of Mind training can change the way the brain handles information in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Investigators and Personnel:
Kristinia Lundgren, PhD
Joseph A. Maldjian, MD