Brain activity was monitored as a close relative spoke the patient’s name.
Unlike patients in vegetative states, those in minimally conscious states (MCSs) retain some awareness. In this study of 11 patients — 7 thought to be in vegetative states and 4 thought to be in MCSs by clinical examination — Chinese researchers used functional MRI to evaluate brain activation while a close relative spoke the patient’s name.
The researchers assumed that activation limited to the auditory cortex (in response to the spoken name) implies no conscious awareness, whereas more widespread activation implies possible awareness. Functional MRI revealed activation in areas beyond the auditory cortex in all four MCS patients, but also in two of the seven patients thought to be in vegetative states. Three months later, the two vegetativ…