it's been a year since the university of texas at arlingtonex started a new unit to research u and study concussions in student athletes. since then, morenc than 60 students from area high schools have had concussions on the field. new this morning, amanda fitzpatrick recently visited doctors and students to see what they've learned. >> ryan, what we're going to do is we're going to put you through 18 trials. >> reporter: 15-year-old ryan is one of 2000 student athletes participating in the concussion study at the university of texasve at arlington. and just a few months ago, the 15-year-old varsity football player suffered from his first concussion. >> i rember being dizzy. not much of the actual incident, but the before and after, but not anything in between. you know, just being very dizzy and walking off the field. >> reporter: dr. jacob bresh from ut arlington says since the study began last year, more orpeople are aware of the dangers of concussions. >> i believe the atmosphere is starting to shift where before hand, i think it was really hard to break that stigma of what the injury actually was. >> reporter: partnering with texas health resources and ut southwestern, students were put through a series of physical and mental tests. if they suffered a ccussion while playing sports, they took the same tests again to see the effect on the brain. >> if there's an eect on a young athlete having a concussion, does this change t their academic achievement? does it change personality? we don't know. >> reporter: for parents it's a safety net that wasn't once there. >> there's a system i an place. we can come and have them checked out. doctors can talk to us and give usus their opinion as to, you know, the extent of his injury. so we feel like it has given us some peace of mind. >> reporter: inr: arlington, amanda tzpatrick, nbc 5. >>> in march, chuta will bring together experts from across ac america for its first-ever concussion sum mit. on go to nbcdfw.com and search concussion for a the details.