Transcranial magnetic stimulation in disorders of consciousness.
We have reviewed the literature on transcranial magnetic stimulation studies in patients with brain death, coma, vegetative, minimally conscious, and locked-in states. Transcranial magnetic stimulation permits non-invasive study of brain excitability and may extend our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. However, use of this technique in severe brain damage remains methodologically ill-defined and must be further validated prior to clinical application in these challenging patients.
Lapitska
Natallia
N
Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre and Neurology Department, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Gosseries
Olivia
O
Delvaux
Valérie
V
Overgaard
Morten
M
Nielsen
Feldbaek
F
Maertens de Noordhout
Alain
A
Moonen
Gustave
G
Laureys
Steven
S
D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation