Final answer:
The tearing of axons in the brain is most commonly caused by Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), a result of severe rotation or blunt force trauma.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism of injury that commonly results in the tearing of axons in the brain is Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). DAI is a form of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull as an aftermath of severe rotation or blunt force trauma, such as from a motor vehicle accident. Unlike a contusion, which is a bruise on the brain's surface, or a hemorrhage, which involves bleeding in the brain, DAI involves widespread tearing of axons in the white matter of the brain due to shearing forces. Concussions, while known as the mildest and most common type of brain injury, generally do not result in the tearing of axons.