Brain balance hints at coma recovery

摘要

Are you there? Detecting brain circuits that switch back and forth between internal and external awareness could help doctors work out if a person in a coma is ever likely to regain consciousness. The test involves scanning the brains of people who are minimally conscious or in a coma. Other tests for consciousness have used beeps, music or electromagnetic pulses to stimulate the patient - but the latest one needs no active input, simply watching resting brain activity is enough.