Greetings Bloggers, Readers, One and All, and Welcome to My Blog: Are Concussions Sexist? Gender Based Differences in Sports-Related Head Trauma!
My name is Kiri Carlson, and I am so excited to have you join me on the senior project adventure. In the third trimester of senior year at BASIS Scottsdale, we say goodbye to the 6 AM mornings, the cramped high school hallways, and the air-conditioned classrooms (even in the winter!). Now for the next 10 weeks before graduation, instead of staying at home in my PJ’s and watching Netflix all day, I have opted to take part in the Basis Scottsdale Senior Project, an independent research opportunity for students to explore and research their current interests.
A big thanks to Dr. Hara and Dr. Zwart, our intermediaries with Mayo Clinic, who helped introduce me to my on-site mentor Dr. Catherine Chong, Assistant Professor of Neurology and research faculty member in The Neuroimaging of Headache Disorders Laboratory. Also, a 3rd period College Counseling round of applause for my wonderful guidance counselor, Ms. Mitrovich, as well as my fantastic Faculty Advisor, Ms. Wilson. We still have 3 more months to go, but I'm grateful for all they've done for me thus far.
For my research, I will be determining whether concussions discriminate based on gender, speaking in terms of visual differences and the methods of treatment. When hearing the word ‘sexism’, it usually elicits a negative connotation, but with my project, I hope to use these differences to substantiate the need for more personalized treatments of concussions. For a more detailed description of my project, check out my Senior Project Proposal. Sidenote: In my 18 years of living, I’ve never (knock on wood) had the misfortune of receiving a concussion (but I have been hit in the face with a volleyball if that counts for anything).
During my time at Mayo, Dr. Chong will begin conducting a one-day research study between a control group of healthy patients and those who have sustained an acute concussion. Only patients with post-concussions of less than two weeks will be included in this study. Participants will fill out a questionnaire then have their brains scanned. As for me, I will have the great privilege of getting to observe during the evaluation and testing of the 18-55 years old patients.
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| Above: Mayo Clinic's Phoenix Campus |
But of course, all work and no play makes Kiri a dull girl, so I’ll be sure to find time for even more fun. This may include: catching up on the newest season of Sherlock, hanging out with friends, and/or telling myself I’ll get more sleep when in reality I’ll be browsing social media.
Now if you take a look at the sidebar to the right, you'll find a list of my fellow group members' blogs (for one cannot simply look at one blog). Lastly, stay tuned on my blog as I make headway into the world of hospitals and head injuries!
Kiri!!! Your post is amazing, and I very much appreciate your use of the Disney gif. Your writing truly captures your personality (I should know) and does a great job of briefly informing everyone of your work. As one who has also been hit on the head by many volleyballs, who had to take concussion tutorial thingies online, and actually suffered from a concussion in maybe ninth grade or something, I'm really excited to see how your research project will turn out. Quick question, though. When you say that you're looking for "gender-based differences in sports-related head trauma," what factors do you plan on comparing between males and females with concussions, that is, if you have any in mind at the moment? Can't wait to see your project develop, and I look forward to your next post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comment, Korina! Compliments both encourage and help motivate me to do my best work. I am also glad that my research is so relatable to your personal life. One of the main goals of my project is to inform the public (esp. coaches, athletes, etc.) about the dangers of concussions as well as the symptoms to look for. By recording reported symptoms and the effects of a concussion, these will hopefully address some of the "gender-based differences". Then, when the Mayo Clinic study begins, other factors may arise to assist in more clearly distinguishing male and female concussions and how they should be treated. I appreciate you coming to review my first blog post. Until next time!
DeleteHi Kiri!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how long I've waited for your first post to go up. When I finally saw a notification pop-up on my phone and hurried over to my laptop to head over to your blog, I read your post and wasn't disappointed. Your humor never fails to make me laugh, and it was totally worth the wait :) I especially like the volleyball comment (I hope you weren't referring to the times Cedric and I attacked you with a ball whilst playing volleyball outside haha :)). In terms of your project itself, will you be working with Mayo on the contents of the questionnaire, or will Mayo already have one ready? Also, what are you most excited for: observing the evaluation/testing of the patients, or working with the results to analyze differences and come up with conclusions? I can't wait to read more of your posts, and follow you on your amazing journey!!! :)
Thanks so much, Saleena! I love the enthusiasm. You seem to be as excited for my project as I am. I think it's important to keep a formal tone for a blog; however, it's just as important to make sure your 'true personality' is reflected as well. I hope that was what came across in my first post. As for your questions, the study has already been planned out along with the questions, and I will merely stand in as an objective pair of eyes. Though both the evaluation and the analysis will provide me with learning experiences, I think the personal interaction between doctor and patient will be the most interesting. I'm not sure how they'll be testing participants, which is part of the reason that it's so exciting. I'm also looking forward to taking a look at a brain scan and learning what it can tell us. I can't wait to share more of my project with you all!
DeleteWow Kiri! If your first post is any indication, I think your blog will be a good read every week. I love how you show your personality! When you say that you will be looking at the visual differences and methods of treatment, what do you exactly mean by that? Will you be looking at how males and females present symptoms of a concussion differently or how their treatment varies based on their gender?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ms. Conner! I'm pretty happy with how my first blog post came out as well, and I am glad you enjoyed it. I can't believe it's already the end of January, and that our projects are finally taking off. To clarify, I'll be using the brain scans to determine if there are any structural differences between male and female concussions. Since I'm not expecting any drastic differences there, I'll probably focus more on which treatments will elicit the most effective results. Also, because I'm not sure what the contents of the study's questionnaire are yet, I'm thinking it has something to do with recording symptoms (i.e. Does one gender report a symptom more often than another?). If each gender has different recurring symptoms, this might mean different treatments might produce better results. I think that optimal treatment can be found in assessing patients on an individual level, rather than trying to find a treatment that fits everyone's needs because that's a bit impossible. Thanks again!
DeleteWhat a blissful read, Kiri! You sure have a knack for writing/blogging!
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to learn whether your sample group will also be separated into categories like age, fitness level, etc. (I wonder if you may find similarities within these groups as well as within each gender.) Within each gender, are you also looking at compliance (taking it easy, sleeping, keeping lights dimmed, etc.)
I am very interested to follow your experience having suffered from 3 concussions over the course of my own life! Stay away from volleyballs! ;)
Thanks, Ms. Mitrovich! I'm glad that my research provides you with information on a topic that hits so close to home. I look forward to hopefully providing you with some helpful tips and tricks to avoid getting another concussion, or at least, knowledge about the best steps to take should another occur. I don't yet have the all the details for the study, so I only know that participants will be between the ages of 18-55 and that they must be less than two weeks post-concussion. As my internship develops, I'll be able to better describe the criteria for the study. And, although concussions can oftentimes be a serious injury, I hope this doesn't deter you from playing sports such as volleyball! :D
DeleteThis sounds really interesting! First of all, I was curious, how are they scanning the patients brains? (MRI, CAT Scan...etc). Also, do you know why the age range for the study is 18-55? Is it because brains of children are still developing so they might react differently? Also, I am looking forward to seeing how this might allow for more specialized treatment, and seeing the rest of your project!
ReplyDeleteHi Serena! It's always interesting to learn new facts about what separates us in terms of gender. Finding concussion-based differences could very well be an additional distinguishing factor between the sexes. Though I'm not quite sure yet what types of brain scans they'll be using for the study, I think it will be some type of MRI scan, for when I first met with Dr. Chong, she described to me a couple different types of MRIs, each one focusing on individual aspects of the brain. Sadly, I also cannot definitively answer your age question either, so your guess is as good as mine. My reasoning is that people ranging in age will be at different stages of brain development, so getting a concussion could affect one's brain in an entirely different manner. Keep an eye out for my next post!
DeleteHi Kiri! This sounds like a really cool project. I've never thought about how gender would affect injuries like concussions and I look forward to seeing what you find. Do you know if you'll be separating out the concussions by how each person got them as well as gender? Are you only looking at sports-related concussions or are you looking at all concussions? Can't wait to hear more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving a comment, Sarah! I think it's in the obvious places that we find the unexpected things. I'm sure there are many other factors separating men and women that we simply have not explored yet. We have only just begun to scratch the surface of this never-ending research, and I'm so excited to be able to plan and execute a project that could help future researchers. Now before I digress too far, for the study we'll be looking at the brain scans of the patients. From there, neurologists will use algorithms to parcellate the brain by its regions (amygdala, limbic system, etc.). Then, I'll use the data I collect to compare males and females. Meaning technically, the study is only looking to compare normal and sports-related post-concussed brain scans. For my SP question, it adds gender as an additional factor. So, keep the questions coming, and I hope you continue to enjoy my blog!
DeleteHi Kiri! Nice first post! I am very excited to see how your project will progress from here. For my comment, I have two very general questions about what you think of the project itself.
ReplyDelete1. What do you think made you gravitate towards this specific project and topic in general?
2. What is your initial hypothesis on the differences you may see between the two different brains after a concussion? (It doesn't have to be super specific. Just what you think you might see.)
Can't wait to see the rest of your blog! Great start Kiri!
Thanks, Robert! I'm happy you liked my post. I, too, look forward to seeing how this progresses as well as what the results will look like.
Delete1. For your questions, I can't really say I "gravitate[d] towards this specific project." It was more like me thinking about the my current interests, then using the awesome connections that BASIS has with project sites to look for the best fit for me. After taking AP Psych last year and being fascinated with human behavior along with the inner workings of our brains, I decided that anything that had to do with psychology would be perfect for me. Since neurology is a branch of psychology and looking at gender-based differences intrigues me, what better way to apply these interests than in a study about gender-based differences in sports-related concussions.
2. So, as I previously mentioned in my reply to Ms. Connor's comment, we'll be more likely to see differences in the reporting of symptoms, recovery times, and pain sensitivity. I thought there would be visual differences too, but actually, Dr. Chong told me that the MRI scan of a healthy brain and that of a post-mildly concussed brain will look the same to the naked eye. The real differences will be seen in the measurable differences, such as the size and 'squishiness' of the brain.
I look forward to having you continue on with me throughout my journey in addition to reading about what you'll find on your way to improving the way autistic children are being taught!
Hey Kiri! First off this was so nice to read! I found myself laughing and intrigued throughout the post. As a person who has received a severe concussion when I was younger your project sounds like it can really open eyes to differences in concussions between the genders. For clarification will you be looking at the treatment between the genders after an acute concussion or the concussion itself on the two genders? Excited for your next post!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could provide both entertainment and and interest with my blog, Isabella! I look forward to giving you the answers to something I'm sure has been on your mind since then (it's okay if you were busy worrying about other things though, like surviving BASIS). With increased participation of females in contact sports, I felt that this research needed to be brought to the forefront of concussion-related issues. The study I'll be looking at has to do with post-injury of mild concussions in which we will compare the brain scans first between healthy and concussed patients, then by gender. Thanks again for commenting! I'm really excited, too, for how this turns out!! :)
DeleteHi Kiri! This project is so exciting! Will you be looking at the discrimination in the treatment of a post-concussion patient or the discrimination in the effects of the concussion itself? Also, does the cause of the concussion play any role in your research? I'm so excited for the next few weeks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Reyna! I'm happy to have you tag alongside me over the next 10 weeks, and I hope that my amateur blogging skills remain enjoyable throughout. So, to answer your excellent questions, I think it has a little to do with both. The observations we make about the effects on the brain post-concussion will be used to justify the need for more personalized treatments of concussions. Because, part of the process in developing a treatment is finding out everything there is to know about a problem before we try to solve it. Originally, the study was mainly targeted toward sports-related concussions, but due to low enrollment, coordinators of the study have become less strict on the cause of the concussion. For, in the long run, the cause of the concussion is not really the focus for the study. Can't wait for you to read more and keep asking questions! :D
DeleteHi Kiri! Will you be looking at the different treatments per each gender? Also, will you be looking at the effects of each treatment per each gender? I'm excited to learn more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your questions, Nikita! Our study is based more on finding whether there exists any differences in sports-related concussions in terms of gender. Because little has been researched about this topic, actually finding separate treatments is yet to be examined. This study will hopefully show that more individual treatments are necessary because of gender differences. Finding the differences is the major goal at the moment before addressing what those treatments should be. Thanks for commenting and look out for updates!
DeleteKiri, I commend you for (basically) graduating! As a sophomore, I admire your sense of humor, your delightful writing, and your well-planned project! I am patiently awaiting the day I get to begin my life outside of BASIS hallways. :) As an open-minded person, I enjoy seeing topics developed through various perspectives- just like this one! I am fascinated with the way you have chosen to approach this type of injury! I look forward to reading your blog for the upcoming weeks. Amazing job! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your sweet comment, Lorena! Yes, I am counting down the days until graduation, but at the same time, I will enjoy every minute of my senior project as well as this newfound freedom that is Trimester 3. I wish you luck for the end of your sophomore year in addition to all of next year (they say every grade is hard, but Junior year was the toughest, for me at least). I'm glad that I have piqued your interest with my research, and I look forward to providing you with updates hopefully as enjoyable as the first. Happy reading!
DeleteHi Kiri! Your project sounds so interesting! How often will you be analyzing results at the lab and does the questionnaire ask about the symptoms of the patients or other useful medical information? I can't wait to read your next post!
ReplyDeleteHey, Rachel! I am honored that you've chosen to follow my blog, and I'm excited to have you join me on this exciting new adventure. Because the study has just begun and it's mostly completing preliminary work and other preparations, the actual lab work has yet to begin. Fortunately, I get to sit in on the evaluation of our first patient this Wednesday, so keep an eye out for my next post. And, it just so happens that today I got to take a look at a bunch of patient files, including all the questionnaires that needed to be filled out to participate in the study. Each file contained contact information and a consent form (these are removed in order to de-identify the patients), medical history, and many other tests that I can talk about in my next post. Thanks again, and enjoy! :)
DeleteHi Kiri! This sounds like an amazing idea for something to research. I'm very excited to see just how gender would affect the conditions of a concussion. I'm sure you'll do a great job. Will you be looking just at a specific sport like football or any sport as there have been concussions in baseball and soccer?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I think it's such a great idea to have other grades follow a blog and possibly help someone discover an interest. I hope that my blog will be able to have that effect (or at least it will convince you not to get a concussion any time soon). Unfortunately, I won't be looking into a specific sports-based concussion, rather how a concussion affects a person's symptoms and pain sensitivity. Though I won't be researching a particular sport, maybe your future senior project could look at concussions in football, baseball, or soccer. Keep the questions coming!
DeleteHi Kiri! This senior project of yours sounds like a lot of fun. I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them. What led you to taking on concusssions in the first place, and do you have any predictions for how your final analysis will turn out? Thanks, looking forward to learning more about this topic for these upcoming weeks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael! I know I only had my first official day yesterday, but I've already learned so much, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you all. It was after taking AP Psych last year that I developed an interest in how the brain works. Then Dr. Hara and Dr. Zwart, our amazing contacts with Mayo, helped me reach out to my on-site mentor, Dr. Chong, who was just starting a study on concussions. So now I am taking this opportunity to gain some internship experience and learn more about how to look at the brain. I can't make any predictions, but what I think would be cool to find is an actual gender-based difference. It's fascinating to think that we can be separated based on the actual structure of our brains. Stay tuned for more updates!
DeleteKiri, This topic is a unique idea that sounds really interesting. I can wait to read it each week! Are you going to be talking with the patient or observing the data?
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Mary! I'm excited to tell you all about my progress. I probably won't be do a lot of talking with the patients, but I will get to observe their evaluations/testing. Also, I will get to examine their MRIs and the measurements that they will tell us. My next post will go into more detail about my first week at Mayo!
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