Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

A Novel and Translational Rat Model of Concussion Combining Force and Rotation with In Vivo Cerebral Microdialysis
Published on: July 12, 2019
Neurochemical cascade of concussion
Matthew P MacFarlane1, Thomas C Glenn
1UCLA Cerebral Blood Flow Laboratory , Los Angeles, CA , USA and.
Primary Objective:
The aim of this literature review was to systematically describe the sequential metabolic changes that occur following concussive injury, as well as identify and characterize the major concepts associated with the neurochemical cascade.
Research Design:
Narrative literature review.
Conclusions:
Concussive injury initiates a complex cascade of pathophysiological changes that include hyper-acute ionic flux, indiscriminant excitatory neurotransmitter release, acute hyperglycolysis and sub-acute metabolic depression. Additionally, these metabolic changes can subsequently lead to impaired neurotransmission, alternate fuel usage and modifications in synaptic plasticity and protein expression. The combination of these metabolic alterations has been proposed to cause the transient and prolonged neurological deficits that typically characterize concussion. Consequently, understanding the implications of the neurochemical cascade may lead to treatment and return-to-play guidelines that can minimize the chronic effects of concussive injury.
Related Concept Videos
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
Neuroplasticity
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
Chemical Synapses
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

