Study results could provide new hope for patients thought to be unresponsive
(NEWSER) - A new study could have a life-changing impact on patients thought to be in a “vegetative” state: Three such patients displayed signs of full consciousness in a simple test. “It sure looks as if there’s not just a little bit of consciousness but a lot” in these subjects, who had previously been deemed unresponsive, says a neuropsychologist who was not involved in the study. Sixteen supposedly “vegetative” patients were asked to imagine forming a fist or wiggling their toes when they heard a beep, and the brain activity for three of them showed “responses that were identical to healthy volunteers,” says the lead researcher. More»
