A concussion is an injury to the brain, generally caused by a blow to the head, which jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. A concussion changes how the brain normally functions. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include: headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems. However, sometimes these common symptoms may not be recognized until days or even weeks after the impact occurred.
Prior to the start of the season, individual athletes take the ImPACT neurocognitive test to establish a baseline to reference in the event of a concussion. This test evaluates several aspects of brain function, including memory, processing speed and reaction time.