Science on Tap Vancouver -- Should Humans Play Football? The Neuroscience of Concussions

Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 
Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m. 
Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash. 
Cost: $9 online advance tickets, $10 suggested cover at the door 
Food & Drink: Beer, wine, popcorn, pizza slices, and snacks available. 

We humans have always loved dangerous sports, from ancient chariot racing all the way to today's football, soccer, and hockey. Despite safety equipment, the sight of a player being checked for a head injury has become increasingly common. Growing evidence indicates that multiple concussions and similar injuries to the head can accelerate certain forms of dementia and lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). What does that mean for both professional athletes and for your kids who play on after school sports teams? 

Dr. Larry Sherman is a neuroscientist at OHSU and his lab has been exploring how the brain responds to certain types of injury. He will explore the mechanisms underlying the brain's responses to injury and possible ways to reverse brain damage. Dr. Sherman has spoken at several earlier events, including on The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Love, Every Brain Needs Music, and You and Your Racist Brain: The Neuroscience of Prejudice, but at this event he will be talking about his own research. 


Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver. 

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Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don't have to be a science geek to have fun--all you need is a thirst for knowledge!