Detecting Awareness in the Vegetative State
Adrian M. Owen, Martin R. Coleman, Melanie Boly, Matthew H. Davis, Steven Laureys, John D. Pickard
Science September 7, 2006 DOI: 10.1126/science.1130197 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient fulfilling criteria for a diagnosis of vegetative state |
| Keywords | Minimally conscious state Magnetic resonance imaging Consciousness Radiology |
| Citations | 1,974 |
| Key findings | The patient activated predicted cortical areas when imagining playing tennis or moving around her home, in a manner indistinguishable from healthy volunteers, indicating preserved conscious awareness. |
Abstract
We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate preserved conscious awareness in a patient fulfilling the criteria for a diagnosis of vegetative state. When asked to imagine playing tennis or moving around her home, the patient activated predicted cortical areas in a manner indistinguishable from that of healthy volunteers.