Pilot Findings of Brain Displacements and Deformations during Roller Coaster Rides

• DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4893
• Publication Date: 2017-07-06T23:09:24Z
• Authors: Calvin Kuo; Lyndia C. Wu; Patrick P. Ye; Kaveh Laksari; David B. Camarillo; Ellen Kuhl
• Keywords: Roller coaster

With 300,000,000 riders annually, roller coasters are a popular recreational activity. Although the number of coaster injuries is relatively low, precise effect rides on our brains remains unknown. Here we present quantitative characterization brain displacements and deformations during rides. For two healthy adult male subjects, recorded head accelerations three representative rides, and, for comparison, running soccer headers. From recordings, simulated using rigid body dynamics finite element analyses. Our findings show that despite having lower linear than sports impacts, may lead to strains comparable mild The peak change in angular velocity was 9.9 rad/sec, which higher 5.6 rad/sec headers with ball velocities reaching 7 m/sec. Maximum surface 4.0 mm maximum principal 7.6% were similar headers, but below reported average concussion strain. Brain strain rates those running, Strikingly, same ride at position, subjects experienced significantly different kinematics deformation. These results indicate motion deformation highly sensitive individual subjects. study suggests do not an immediate risk acute injury, their long-term effects require further longitudinal study.