The Concussion Crew

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2025 Pee-Wee Championship football game, where the Wildcats will face off against the Eagles.

The Wildcats will be kicking the ball off to the Eagles to start the game.

Kick is up and away.

Ooh, that's a big hit! I hope poor Timmy will be okay.

Timmy just got a concussion. Let's take a look at what's going on inside of his brain. But before we do that, let's meet the band responsible for running his brain. Let's give a warm welcome to “The Concussion Crew!” [Applause]

On the French horn we have the brain tissue. On the piano we have the neurons. Firing up the drums is the brain stem. Manning the flute is the cranial nerve. And playing the guitar is the vestibular system. Now, let's meet each of the members of the band one by one.

Brain Tissue:

I am the tissue, soft and gray,

where thoughts and memories like to play.

My fragile cells and neurons deep

connect the thoughts you want to keep.

But when a hard and sudden blow

makes all my pathways rock and flow.

That pounding pain inside your head?

A headache is my message spread.

Neurons:

We are the neurons, a firing chain

connecting pathways in your brain.

A web of signals fast and bright

that give you memory, thought, and sight.

But when a sudden jarring blow

stretches the lines where signals flow,

our firing patterns go astray

and send out pain for all the day.

The throbbing ache in your head?

A headache is our after effect.

Brain Stem:

I am the stem,

a vital post where nerves

for balance and for sight are host.

When I am jolted from my place,

double vision blows your space,

and sick waves of nausea start to race.

Cranial Nerves:

We are the nerves, a special crew

that aim your eyes to see what's true.

We work as one, a perfect team,

to focus on a single stream.

But when a jolt has made us fray,

your eyes will drift and pull away,

and one clear image splits in two,

creating double vision for you.

Vestibular System:

I am the vestibular system,

with fluid canals and crystal stones.

I sense the tilt of all your bones.

I tell your eyes which way is down,

stop the world from spinning round.

But when a blow makes my signals lie,

the dizzy world will pass you by.

And that same conflict in your head

will bring on waves of nauseous tales.

Thank you for listening to “The Concussion Crew” and the neuroscience behind concussions. This is “The Concussion Crew” signing off.