Do Tasers Cause Brain Damage?

They’re a controversial weapon used by police across the globe. And now, new research has shown that Tasers could cause serious short term cognitive impairments. While they’re not lethal like their handgun counterparts, they do pack a punch, delivering 50,000 volts of electricity to the skin. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t a harm free assault, with both the body and the brain feeling the buzz.

New research has revealed that following a Taser shock, a person suffers from significant reductions in some aspects of cognitive function. While these effects are short-term, the fact that Tasers do induce temporary brain damage has alarmed some scientists.

The right to think straight

For police, using a Taser runs the risk of suspects being unable to understand their rights while being arrested. Specialists warn that it could also trigger irrational or violent reactions, which could ultimately have an impact on their final sentence.

The study was published in the Criminology & Public Policy journal, with the Drexel and Arizona State University drawing on the experiences of 142 participants. All underwent extensive psychological and physiological screenings, with the experiment conducted in a hospital to minimise the risk of any incidents. As part of the study, participants were assigned one of four conditions at random. These included nothing (the control group), striking a punching bag to simulate the adrenalin of an arrest, a five-second Taser shock, and hitting a punch bag, followed by the shock. Before, during and after the experiment scientists measured a variety of different cognitive function aspects, including memory, learning and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT).

Short term shock to the brain

The results indicated that exposure to a Taser shock temporarily reduced the ability to recall information, as well as integrate new auditory facts. For example, prior to the experiment all groups scored above average in the HVLT test. After receiving a Taser shock, participants dropped down to the cognitive functionality of a 79-year-old adult. The results are particularly concerning, as the participants were all young, healthy, calm and substance free. With the majority of arrests not meeting these characteristics, the effects of a real-life Taser shock could be even more alarming.    

The human brain is incredibly complex, and extremely sensitive. For more insight into the world of neurology, ‘Stem Cell Promise - Research Brings Autograft Revolution Closer’ looks at how new research could revolutionise the treatment of many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

Image via Flickr Creative Commons. Photo credits: U.S Pacific Command