New UBC Study Links Mild Soccer Headers to Brain Activity Changes

A groundbreaking study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) has revealed that even mild impacts from heading a soccer ball can have measurable effects on brain activity.

The study, published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, found that controlled soccer headers—although not severe enough to cause concussions—are followed by a brief slowing of brain function, causing brain waves commonly associated with sleep and drowsiness.

The experiment involved eight healthy adults performing controlled headers under conditions similar to those seen in actual soccer games.

Each participant wore electroencephalography (EEG) sensors and custom mouthguards, which tracked both head movement and brain activity.

After impacts, researchers noted a significant increase in delta brain waves, which are typically linked to drowsiness and sleep, according to Dr. Lyndia Wu, the lead researcher and assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UBC.

"Delta waves are low-frequency waves associated with sleep. When this activity happens while awake, it could disrupt normal brain function, leading to lapses in attention," explained Dr. Wu.

For athletes, these momentary brain lapses could reduce focus and mental sharpness following even minor impacts.

The growing concern over repeated exposure to these mild impacts prompted the research team to investigate how these small but frequent head impacts may affect brain health over time.

While most previous studies have only measured post-game or post-season effects, this UBC study is unique in that it captures immediate brain responses after individual impacts.

The study also assessed the severity and direction of impacts, revealing that stronger headers led to a more significant increase in delta wave activity, and impacts from certain angles caused greater brain activity on the opposite side of the head.

Encouragingly, the brain activity of most participants returned to normal shortly after the headers, suggesting no long-term effects from these mild impacts.

However, the findings indicated that individual responses to head impacts vary, with some participants showing more significant changes in brain activity than others.

"This study is crucial in helping us understand how the brain responds to mild impacts," added Dr. Wu.

"It can inform safety protocols and guidelines in sports to protect athletes' brain health."

The results highlight the need for personalized safety measures, particularly in sports like soccer and football, where athletes are frequently exposed to head impacts.

Looking ahead, Dr. Wu and her team plan to conduct further research on repeated impacts and how the amount of rest time between them affects recovery.

"This research advances our understanding of how even minor head impacts affect brain function and opens the door for more studies that can protect athletes' health," she concluded.