On the characterization of the heterogeneous mechanical response of human brain tissue

Editorial summary

Human brain tissue was examined experimentally to characterize differences in its mechanical response and improve the material descriptions used in computational models. Compression and relaxation measurements assessed the nonlinear, time-dependent behavior of white and grey matter under controlled testing conditions. The study considers how experimental factors, including loading rate and sample conditions, influence the measured response. Its findings emphasize the importance of tissue heterogeneity and testing protocols when selecting constitutive properties for simulations of brain deformation. The measurements concern tissue specimens rather than the performance of a clinical diagnostic test.