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[Neuroimaging technique: a diagnostic tool to detect altered states of consciousness].

Marie Thonnard, Melanie Boly, Marie-Aurélie Bruno, Camille Chatelle, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse

Medecine sciences : M/S January 2011 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/201127177 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics Altered states of consciousness
Key findings Argues that newer diagnostic methods—such as measuring global cerebral metabolism, fronto-parietal network integrity, resting-state activity, and active neuroimaging paradigms—could help distinguish vegetative from minimally conscious states and reduce the current misdiagnosis rate of 40%.

Abstract

Vegetative and minimally conscious states diagnosis remained a major clinical challenge. New paradigms such as measurement of the global cerebral metabolism, the structural and functional integrity of fronto-parietal network, or the spontaneous activity in resting state have been shown to be helpful to disentangle vegetative from minimally conscious patients. Active neuroimagery paradigms also allow detecting voluntary and conscious activity in non-communicative patients. The implementation of these methods in clinical routine could permit to reduce the current high rate of misdiagnosis (40%).