Uncovering Hidden Consciousness in Comatose Brains

Some patients with acute brain injuries can't respond to verbal commands, making them appear to be unconscious though they still have some level of awareness.

Researchers recently studied this hidden consciousness to better understand this puzzling phenomenon.

“Our study suggests that patients with hidden consciousness can hear and comprehend verbal commands, but they cannot carry out those commands because of injuries in brain circuits that relay instructions from the brain to the muscles,” said study leader Dr. Jan Claassen. He's an associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. [read more]

Source: HealthDay

Also covered by: U.S. News & World Report