title: Sensory stimulation in prolonged coma: four single case studies.
abstract: Patients diagnosed as being in prolonged coma (vegetative state) in this hospital are routinely treated according to a sensory stimulation protocol. This paper reports an evaluation of the efficacy of this procedure using the comparison of behavioural measures taken immediately prior to and post-stimulation. Four single cases produced significant behavioural changes suggesting increased arousal as a result of stimulation. The results and implications for further evaluation studies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Royal Hospital and Home, London, UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thwaites
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*