Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults. In addition, head injury in older adults, as a result of falls, is a growing clinical concern. To investigate the pathophysiology of brain injury and develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat this condition, experimental models of TBI have been established. Although no experimental model completely mimics the human condition, individual models produce many features of human brain injury. Based on these models, therapeutic strategies directed at specific pathomechanisms have been initiated. This chapter reviews the basic science of neurotrauma and summarizes the various experimental strategies used to investigate and treat TBI.