A computational investigation of strain concentration in the brain in response to a rapid temperature rise. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dagro, Amy; Wilkerson, Justin
• Is Part Of: Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials. Volume 115(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) -- Thermal expansion and mechanics of brain tissue -- Pulsed high power microwave bioeffects; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104228
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-6161

Abstract

Abstract: Following the mysterious health attacks on U.S. diplomats in Cuba in 2016, the cause of concussion-like symptoms concurrent with strange noises heard by the diplomats remains undetermined. A wide range of possible causes of the sensations have been proposed: pulsed microwave exposure, infrasound acoustic devices, pesticides/neurotoxins, and even mass hysteria (psychogenic illness). Here, we numerically examine the pulsed microwave exposure hypothesis and the simulated mechanical response of brain tissue. A computational model is used to examine the influence of various spatially varying temperature gradients and pulse durations on the mechanical response of brain tissue. We show that a stress-focusing effect due to a rapid temperature increase may result in brain tissue strains larger than the initially applied thermal strains.