title: Evaluation of technology-assisted learning setups for undertaking assessment and providing intervention to persons with a diagnosis of vegetative state.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the viability of technology-assisted learning setups for undertaking assessment and providing intervention to persons in vegetative state.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study I investigated whether three persons with a diagnosis of vegetative state could associate eye blinking or hand closure responses with contingent, positive stimulation, thus increasing their frequencies (showing signs of learning). Study II extended the learning process (introducing a new response and new stimuli) for one of the participants of Study I.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of the participants of Study I succeeded in increasing their responses, indicating signs of learning. Study II showed that the participant (one of the two succeeding in Study I) acquired a new response to access new stimuli and could alternate this response with the one acquired in Study I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Learning might represent a basic level of knowledge and consciousness. Detecting signs of learning might help modify a previous diagnosis of vegetative state and support intervention/rehabilitation efforts.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Nirbhay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buonocunto
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Crocifissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanzilotti
authors.forename: Marta Olivetti
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Megna
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tommaso
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015701:Near Drowning; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State; D012656:Self-Help Devices