118

NeuroNs, HormoNes,

aNd tHe BraiN

4

Former Linebacker’s Family Sues NFL

SaN Diego, January 24, 2013. The family of Junior Seau, the

former National Football League linebacker who died of a

self-inflicted gunshot wound last May at age 43, has filed

a wrongful death suit against the league. The family claims

that repeated brain injuries from hits sustained over the

course of Seau’s 20-season career led to psychological prob-

lems and ultimately to the player’s suicide. The suit further

alleges that the NFL ignored and hid information about the

risks associated with brain trauma.

According to Seau’s former wife Gina and his 23-year-

old son Tyler, during his final years Seau exhibited wild

mood swings, irrationality, forgetfulness, and depression.

A postmortem study of his brain by the National Institutes of

Health earlier this month confirmed that the much-honored

athlete suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy

(CTE), a degenerative brain disease.

Last November, an Associated Press review found that

several thousand players have sued the NFL over head in-

juries. The NFL has consistently denied allegations that it

glorifies violence and “big hits,” and has provided millions

of dollars to support scientific research on player safety. But

public concern about football and other violent contact sports,

such as hockey and soccer, is increasing. Some coaches and

parents of student athletes are requiring players to undergo

cognitive and memory testing before the start of the season,

then again after suffering a head injury and before they are

allowed to return to the field. But there are reports that some

student athletes have resumed play while still showing cogni-

tive symptoms.

PsycHology iN tHe News

The Nervous System:

A Basic Blueprint

Communication in the

Nervous System

Mapping the Brain

A Tour Through the Brain

The Two Hemispheres of

the Brain

The Flexible Brain

Psychology in the News,

Revisited

Taking Psychology With

You: Cosmetic Neurology:

Tinkering With the Brain

Concern is also growing among professional football

players. Some have quit the sport, citing worries about their

long-term health. Several well-known players, such as former

NFL linebacker Junior Seau committed suicide in 2012. His family

has filed a wrongful death suit against the league.