Why does getting hit in the head knock you out? I understand the force causing damage but why does the system shut down for non critical damage. Seems a design flaw when you're in a tight spot. Do all other mammals as well? Lizards? Insects?
Getting hit in the head can result in a traumatic brain injury, which can cause you to lose consciousness. [4] When the skull receives a strong enough blow, the brain can slam into the inside of the skull, causing trauma. [2] If the blow is strong enough, the brain will slam into the side of the skull and bounce off, causing more trauma. [2] The movement of the brain within the skull can also cause trauma as the brain twists around the brain stem. [5] This can cut off reticular formation, which helps regulate consciousness. [5]
Getting hit in the head can cause the brain to slam into the skull, causing trauma and brain cells to start dying from the physical impact [1]. The trauma can also cause an overwhelming number of neurotransmitters to fire simultaneously, inducing a form of nervous system overload that causes temporary paralysis [1]. Another mechanism that causes loss of consciousness has to do with how blood flows to the brain; a reflex area in the brain called the sinus regulates the flow of blood and oxygen to the head, but a good knock to the jaw can jolt the sinus [1]. This lightning fast altering of the blood and oxygen flow can be enough to cause a blackout [1]. Finally, getting hit in the head can cause the brain to fly in one direction while it twists along the brain stem, affecting the reticular formation and cutting off effective signaling [2]. The reticular formation consists of many neural networks, including those of sleep and consciousness, so if there's a disruption to the normal pathways of the nerves, signals for consciousness won't get through [2]. 