Models for simulating traumatic brain injury provide analogues for studying similar occurrences in humans. Such models may include inserting a subject into a sheath. While in the sheath, the subject may be placed on a pad beneath an impactor. The head of the subject may be impacted by the impactor, whereby the head of the subject moves into the pad. Methods may further include attaching a helmet to the head of the subject. An arm of an impact device may be connected to a handle of the helmet, such that the head of the subject is restrained relative to the impact device. While advancing the impactor, the arm may be disconnected from the handle, such that the head of the subject becomes unrestrained relative to the impact device and moves into the pad in response to the impacting.
