Cerebral processing in the minimally conscious state.
We studied a patient in a minimally conscious state using PET and cognitive evoked potentials. Cerebral metabolism was below half of normal values. Auditory stimuli with emotional valence (infant cries and the patient's own name) induced a much more widespread activation than did meaningless noise; the activation pattern was comparable with that previously obtained in controls. Cognitive potentials showed preserved P300 responses to the patient's own name.
Laureys
S
S
Cyclotron Research Center and Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B30, 4000 Liège, Belgium. steven.laureys@ulg.ac.be
Perrin
F
F
Faymonville
M-E
ME
Schnakers
C
C
Boly
M
M
Bartsch
V
V
Majerus
S
S
Moonen
G
G
Maquet
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004644:Emotions; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications; D012018:Reflex; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications; D013060:Speech
D005947:Glucose