When
Monday, March 24th, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Philip V. Bayly
Lee Hunter Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Washington University in St. Louis
"The Brain in Motion: Measurements of Brain Mechanical Behavior in Vivo by MRI"
Keating 103 | Zoom link
Abstract: High linear and angular accelerations of the skull can lead to rapid deformation of brain tissue and subsequent traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the precise mechanisms of TBI remain incompletely understood. Computer simulations of head-brain biomechanics offer enormous potential for improved understanding and prevention of TBI. However, simulations must be complemented by biomechanical measurements to parameterize and evaluate the underlying mathematical models.
The nonlinear, anisotropic, viscoelastic, and heterogeneous character of brain tissue, along with the intricate connections between the brain and skull, all play critical roles in the brain’s response to skull acceleration. While studies of animal brains and ex vivo brain tissue have provided valuable insights, in vivo measurements of the human brain’s response are essential. However, efforts to study the motion of the human brain in vivo are complicated by the fact that it is delicate, hidden, and well-protected by the skull.
Dr. Bayly will describe MR imaging techniques to characterize brain deformation, estimate brain material properties, and illuminate the boundary conditions between the brain and skull, all aimed at improving the ability to model and simulate TBI.
Bio: Dr. Philip V. (Phil) Bayly is the Lee Hunter Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Washington University in St. Louis. He earned his A.B. in engineering science from Dartmouth College, an MS in engineering from Brown University and a PhD in mechanical engineering from Duke University. Before pursuing his doctorate, he worked as a research engineer for the Shriners Hospitals and as a design engineer for Pitney Bowes.