I have posted about how the brain can memorize a reaction to a situation like a light head bump as being the same as a concussion. Here is a better explanation with the technical details.

I found this in the comments on a question about aircraft flying through turbulence on quora.com. It sounds like it is the medical/psychological explanation for why so many experience so many symptoms from just a head bump after they suffered a concussion.

"Why are people so afraid of turbulence during an airline flight? It is because the amygdala, the part of the brain that releases stress hormones reacts every time it feels a dropping sensation. This means every time the plane drops in turbulence, every passenger gets another shot of stress hormones.

Everyone gets the stress hormones (other than the pilots whose amygdala is desensitized to turbulence). People who automatically regulate arousal caused by stress hormones, self-regulate. People who do not automatically regulate arousal caused by stress hormones, get more, and more revved up with “fight or flight” response feelings. And, with no control, and unable to fight or flee, the stress hormones build up, and cause panic.

Then, in the amygdala itself, there are memory cells which record the release of stress hormones and the fear and panic. This is a form of PTSD. The person, having been terrified by turbulence, simply believes it is dangerous based on what is recorded in the amygdala. They cannot change what they believe because the memory cells involved with this in the amygdala are fixed.

Based on my experience treating fearful fliers, nothing can be done to fix this other than to train the mind to produce oxytocin during the flight. Oxytocin inhibits the amygdala. Some people say they want to be knocked out when they fly. That isn’t necessary. Why? Because we can just knock out the amygdala by producing oxytocin."

Quora - The best answer to any question

To apply this to PCS. The concussion creates a memorize sensitivity in the amygdala to head movement. This is connected to the memory of concussion symptoms. So, when the head experiences a sudden movement, it reverts to concussion symptom mode.

This is why I tell people to practice desensitizing their brain to touch by touching and tapping on their head or having somebody else do it when it is not expected. This is an attempt to retrain the brain to a new, less stressful response pattern.

Interesting!

I think I'll start tapping my head with my anchor, gently of course, on second thought maybe not!

It took me a good while to allow my wife to touch my head or be comfortable with getting a haircut.

Bud

How about this being related to a neck injury? Any head bump has an impact on the neck.

On a related note Mark: You mentioned to one of the members to check their neck, because they hit the front of their head and that they my have had a whiplash. What does check your neck mean? MRI?

At the Physio office, they tried to generate my symptoms. Rapid eye movements did not do it. However her turning my neck from side to side got me real bad.

So I have been wanting to investigate that. After all problems in the neck can have an effect on dizziness and headache (and of course neck soreness) as I have. Not sure they have an impact on vision but some people argue it does...

bacch...

The article was in reference to those who manifest severe symptoms from very minor bumps like dropping a comb on the head or a bump while riding in the car or other such minor head touches or jostles.

Actually, I don't say check your neck. What I say is, Your neck can contribute to symptoms. Very few diagnostic procedures can detect the subtle neck injuries common to concussions. The way to figure this out is with good head and neck posture during sleep and rest so one can see if it makes a difference. For me, it made a huge difference. Better sleep. Better wake up. Better days. Less headaches.

A physio doing gentle traction with gentle mobilization can help, followed by icing. But, no pushing for range of motion like most physios like to do.

But, you have neck pain so a neck injury is very suspect.

"At the Physio office, they tried to generate my symptoms. Rapid eye movements did not do it. However her turning my neck from side to side got me real bad. "

I don't understand what 'got me real bad' relates to. What symptoms did it cause ?

btw, I would never let anybody turn my neck from side to side. If they want me to do it, I will do it. Nobody touches and twists my head is a quick way.

Stupid amygdala!

Highly skilled care providers (PT s, bodyworkers ,chiros, some drs) can tell by feeling the (neck) muscles if they are in spasms or tight/locked up..
Also a good clear description of your pain should help them to narrow down the cause or part of the cause..

Some don't get it ..but the really good ones can tell, and they can help with various modalities to get the muscles to relax.

Ultra sound, massage, hands on trigger point work, low/cold laser, acupressure, Ifc stimulation, maybe even cupping ( some athletes used cupping during the Olympics)...
many things to try for soft issue/muscle pain relief..

Not all places use all the methods I listed..and there may be new things that I don't know about..

This is an interesting explanation to head sensitivity.

Looking back, including recently, when my overall brain health and functionality are better, my head is less sensitive to bumps, impacts, jarring, etc. And vis versa. During my first semester of college, I chronically overstimulated myself. By the end of the semester, I was walking extremely slow, wearing a neck brace in the car to reduce head jarring, and just moving extremely slow in general. It was during the worst overstimulation days/periods of time, that my head sensitivity was the worst.

My head sensitivity was not noticeable my last quarter of senior year of high school. I wasn't running, or shaking my head "yes" or "no," but I didn't experience the sensation in my head to movements like I have had since I came down off a curb biking and jarred my head and when I first noticed it. This sensation in my head feels like head pressure in my cranial cavities in the front of the head.

I also didn't shower for the longest time because the impact of the water on my head caused me to feel very dizzy and dazed. It still does, but to a much lesser extent.

This evening I went for a longer walk than usual, and it was a bit too long for my head. I get this depersonalization, derealization, dazed, kindof feeling. This happens if I go past my threshold.

I have found somethings to be helpful. A good anti-inflammatory diet, fish oil, curcumin, and flavonoids.

But overall brain health and functionality seem to be the biggest factor in how sensitive my head is. I've noticed this on the facebook forums with others as well. There are few that get this head sensitivity in the first place, and then there are some that have it go away--these are usually the ones who make good recoveries. There are others who have very sensitive heads and they seem to not have had as good of recoveries. And there are those in between.