A Newcastle neurologist says the first study into the long term effects of concussion in rugby league, may lead to a screening test that will determine if a person is unsuitable for contacts sports.

Past and present N-R-L players are undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI scans at a research facility in Newcastle.

Former rugby league hard man, Ian Roberts has revealed he has been diagnosed with brain damage after suffering numerous concussions in his playing career.

Professor Chris Levi says the research may indicate potential screening factors.

"We may in the future be able to have a profile for an individual to say, "well maybe you shouldn't play in that position" or "maybe you shouldn't play in that game, you'd be better off in this game," he said.

"That's possible."

Professor Levi says it is important to conduct the research so that decisions about the sport are made on scientific facts.

"This whole story about concussion and its impact, there's a lot of hype about it and there's a lot of research that I think is being extrapolated far too far in terms of what it really means for individual people playing sport or having concussions from other things is not evidence based," he said.

"It may be unfounded."