Amid longstanding difficulties distinguishing consciousness in humans in unconscious states, scientists report fMRI-based evidence of distinct patterns of brain activity they say can differentiate between consciousness or unconsciousness.
Detecting these patterns in real-time could allow for externally induced manipulations that noninvasively restore consciousness. The detection process also has the potential to greatly facilitate medical decision-making for patients in whom consciousness is impaired, the authors say.
Unconsciousness is characterized by an inability to report subjective experience. [Read more…] about Brain patterns indicative of consciousness, in unconscious individuals