Review
Clinical Neurology
Camillo Porcaro, Idan Efim Nemirovsky, Francesco Riganello, Zahra Mansour, Antonio Cerasa, Paolo Tonin, Bobby Stojanoski, Andrea Soddu
Summary: This article reviews the importance and methods of using neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques to diagnose patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) and differentiate between Vegetative State/Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (VS/UWS) and Minimally Conscious State (MCS). By analyzing studies conducted within the last 10 years, the article summarizes the promising results achieved in improving diagnostic accuracy with these techniques and emphasizes the need to incorporate them into standard clinical practice, as well as the importance of data sharing.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yuanyuan Dang, Yong Wang, Xiaoyu Xia, Yi Yang, Yang Bai, Jianning Zhang, Jianghong He
Summary: This study demonstrated the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in enhancing recovery from minimally conscious state (MCS) by improving functional connectivity and brain networks.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Chuan Xu, Hangcheng Li, Jiaxin Gao, Lingling Li, Fangping He, Jie Yu, Yi Ling, Jian Gao, Jingqi Li, Lucia Melloni, Benyan Luo, Nai Ding
Summary: When listening to speech, cortical activity can track constructed linguistic units, and this can predict the outcome for patients with consciousness disorders. Statistical learning can occur in patients with minimal consciousness and may be used to induce neural plasticity.
Article
Neurosciences
Ye Zhang, Weiguan Chen, Tiantian Zhang, Jubao Du, Rui Li, Renchao Huo, Weiqun Song
Summary: This study aimed to explore a reliable electrophysiological biomarker of tDCS response by applying a hierarchical auditory ERP pattern to 31 MCS patients. The patients were divided into responders and non-responders based on CRS-R behavioral evaluation. The results showed that higher total CRS-R score and the presence of P300 in the hierarchical auditory ERP pattern were associated with tDCS response in MCS patients.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Alice Sautet, Laura Hurtado, Anna Fiveash, Leslie Baron, Melaine De Quelen, Fabien Perrin
Summary: Speech therapy plays an important role in the recovery of patients with disorders of consciousness. Using relevant materials and a musical context can have beneficial effects on behavior evaluation. Larger studies are needed to confirm these initial observations.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xing Jin, Zhenhu Liang, Xin Wen, Yong Wang, Yang Bai, Xiaoyu Xia, Jianghong He, Jamie Sleigh, Xiaoli Li
Summary: The electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns of patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) under general anesthesia (GA) were investigated. Patients with good prognosis showed specific patterns of slow oscillation and alpha band activity, while patients with bad prognosis demonstrated impaired connectivity and network efficiency.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Baohu Liu, Xu Zhang, Lijia Wang, Yuanyuan Li, Jun Hou, Guoping Duan, Tongtong Guo, Dongyu Wu
Summary: This study investigated the role of non-linear dynamic analysis of the EEG in predicting patient outcome in UWS and MCS. The results indicated that certain cortical regions may play key roles in modulating disorders of consciousness, and connectivity patterns of affected and unaffected cortical networks were important for improvement in mGOS scores.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hisse Arnts, Prejaas Tewarie, Willemijn S. van Erp, Berno U. Overbeek, Cornelis J. Stam, Jan C. M. Lavrijsen, Jan Booij, William P. Vandertop, Rick Schuurman, Arjan Hillebrand, Pepijn van den Munckhof
Summary: This study investigated the effects of DBS on oscillatory activity and functional connectivity in a patient with prolonged minimally conscious state. The results showed that a lower frequency and larger volume of tissue activation in DBS were associated with increased functional connectivity and neural variability throughout the brain. However, the patient's neurophysiological markers and objective measures of consciousness remained lower than in healthy controls.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Hui Chen, Guofu Miao, Sirui Wang, Jun Zheng, Xin Zhang, Junbin Lin, Chizi Hao, Hailong Huang, Ting Jiang, Yu Gong, Weijing Liao
Summary: The frontal functional network in minimally conscious state (MCS) patients is disrupted, particularly in the frontopolar area and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The nodal clustering coefficient and nodal local efficiency in the left frontopolar area and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are significantly reduced in MCS patients. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathological mechanism of MCS patients.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhenhu Liang, Zhilei Lan, Yong Wang, Yang Bai, Jianghong He, Juan Wang, Xiaoli Li
Summary: General anesthesia affects the consciousness state and brain networks of MCS patients, and EEG metrics can effectively differentiate the consciousness state of these patients.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Teresa Grimm, Martin Gross, Urs M. Nater, Oliver Summ, Gunter Kreutz
Summary: This explorative study investigated the effects of music and language on the physiological and endocrine systems of UWS and MCS patients. The results showed that biographical language interventions can decrease salivary cortisol levels.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yuan Peng, Jingpu Zhao, Xiao Lu, Juntao Dong, Shunxi Zhang, Jin Zhang, Huihua Liu, Xiuyuan Zheng, Xin Wang, Yue Lan, Tiebin Yan
Summary: The study suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be an effective treatment for improving the consciousness state in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS). tDCS can modulate functional connectivity (FC) not only at the stimulation site (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC), but also in distant regions.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Sarah Elizabeth Patricia Munce, Fiona Webster, Jennifer Christian, Laura E. Gonzalez-Lara, Adrian M. Owen, Charles Weijer
Summary: The study aimed to understand the experiences of family members of individuals in a locked-in, minimally conscious, or vegetative state with the healthcare system. It found that family members faced challenges in care coordination, lack of flexibility in healthcare policies, and inappropriate care settings. Flexibility in policies and interventions to support caregivers and transitions are recommended based on the study's results.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Geraldine Martens, David Ibanez-Soria, Alice Barra, Aureli Soria-Frisch, Andrea Piarulli, Olivia Gosseries, Ricardo Salvador, Andres Rojas, Michael A. Nitsche, Eleni Kroupi, Steven Laureys, Giulio Ruffini, Aurore Thibaut
Summary: This study aims to optimize the application of tDCS by selectively stimulating at high and low vigilance states using EEG real-time spectral entropy as a marker. A randomized controlled crossover clinical trial will be conducted on 16 patients in prolonged MCS to evaluate the behavioral effects of tDCS under different conditions. This unique approach will provide tailored treatment options currently lacking in the field of disorders of consciousness.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Manon Carriere, Roberto Llorens, Maria Dolores Navarro, Jose Olaya, Joan Ferri, Enrique Noe
Summary: Accurately describing the behavioral signs indicating transition from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome/vegetative state to minimally conscious state or emergence from minimally conscious state after severe brain injury is crucial for prognosis. This study examined a large sample of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness and identified the behavioral signs that led to a change in diagnosis, as well as the factors influencing this transition. The study found that transition to minimally conscious state was mostly indicated by visual fixation, localization to noxious stimulation, visual pursuit, and object manipulation. Emergence from minimally conscious state was characterized by functional communication and object use. Clinicians should pay attention to the visual and motor subscales to detect behavioral recovery.
ANNALS OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Evelyne Melotte, Audrey Maudoux, Rajanikant Panda, Jean-Francois Kaux, Aude Lagier, Roxanne Herr, Marion Belorgeot, Steven Laureys, Olivia Gosseries
Summary: This literature review examines the relationship between swallowing and consciousness. It reveals that the different components of swallowing can range from voluntary to reflex behaviors, and the level of consciousness can have an impact on various aspects of swallowing, such as frequency, initiation, efficacy, and coordination with respiration. The review suggests that the efficacy of the oral phase and the ability to receive exclusive oral feeding are the most reliable indicators of consciousness related to swallowing. However, more research is needed to determine if the pharyngeal phase and evoked cough are also signs of consciousness or solely cortical behaviors. Additionally, the lack of tools and techniques to assess and treat swallowing difficulties in patients with consciousness disorders is emphasized.
Article
Anesthesiology
Floriane Rousseaux, Rajanikant Panda, Clemence Toussaint, Aminata Bicego, Masachika Niimi, Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville, Anne-Sophie Nyssen, Steven Laureys, Olivia Gosseries, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse
Summary: This study investigates the effects of virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) on pain management and explores the neural dynamics of pain modulation during VRH. The results show that VRH can decrease pain levels, increase dissociation, and modulate cerebral pain processing mechanisms. This suggests that VRH is an effective approach to reduce experimental pain.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Charlotte Mouraux, Maxime Van Egroo, Daphne Chylinski, Justinas Narbutas, Christophe Phillips, Eric Salmon, Pierre Maquet, Christine Bastin, Fabienne Collette, Gilles Vandewalle
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether subjectively perceived effort covaried with cognitive performance in healthy late-middle-aged individuals. Results showed that perceived effort increased during wake extension and was highly correlated with subjective metrics of sleepiness, fatigue, and motivation, but not with variations in cortical excitability. Moreover, increasing effort was associated with decreased performance in certain cognitive tasks. Importantly, the variations in perceived effort during wakefulness extension decreased from age 50 to 70 years, and more effort was associated with worse performance in older individuals.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Christopher Timmermann, Prisca R. Bauer, Olivia Gosseries, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, Franz Vollenweider, Steven Laureys, Tania Singer, Elena Antonova, Antoine Lutz
Summary: Despite the growing interest in hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics, there is currently no unified framework for the study of non-ordinary states of consciousness (NSCs). We propose a neurophenomenological (NP) approach to the study of NSCs, which emphasizes their role in catalyzing transformation in clinical practice and improving our understanding of the relationship between subjective experience and neural dynamics.
TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Naji Alnagger, Paolo Cardone, Charlotte Martial, Steven Laureys, Jitka Annen, Olivia Gosseries
Summary: Patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) have varying levels of wakefulness and awareness due to severe brain injury. Standardised behavioural examinations are commonly used to assess these patients, but they are often inaccurate. Neuroimaging has provided insights into the neural alterations associated with DoC, and has led to the development of neuroimaging paradigms for clinical assessment. However, consciousness cannot be solely attributed to the activation of specific brain areas, but rather requires the preservation of thalamo-cortical circuits and connectivity between different brain networks. Computational methodologies applied to DoC research can enhance our understanding and inform clinical practice.
Article
Cell Biology
Yonatan Sanz Perl, Carla Pallavicini, Juan Piccinini, Athena Demertzi, Vincent Bonhomme, Charlotte Martial, Rajanikant Panda, Naji Alnagger, Jitka Annen, Olivia Gosseries, Agustin Ibanez, Helmut Laufs, Jacobo D. Sitt, Viktor K. Jirsa, Morten L. Kringelbach, Steven Laureys, Gustavo Deco, Enzo Tagliazucchi
Summary: Researchers use whole-brain modeling, data augmentation, and deep learning to determine a mapping representing states of consciousness in a low-dimensional space. They reveal an orderly trajectory from wakefulness to patients with brain injury in a latent space, where coordinates represent metrics related to functional modularity and structure-function coupling. The effects of model perturbations are investigated, providing a geometrical interpretation for the stability and reversibility of states.
Article
Physiology
Wilhelmina E. Radstake, Steven Jillings, Steven Laureys, Athena Demertzi, Stefan Sunaert, Angelique Van Ombergen, Floris L. Wuyts
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether fighter pilots, who are exposed to frequent g-level transitions and high g-levels, show differential functional characteristics compared to matched controls, indicative of neuroplasticity. The results showed altered functional connectivity in the brains of fighter pilots, suggesting adaptive coping strategies to altered sensorimotor demands during flight.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chiara La Morgia, Micaela Mitolo, Martina Romagnoli, Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati, Stefania Evangelisti, Maddalena De Matteis, Sabina Capellari, Claudio Bianchini, Claudia Testa, Gilles Vandewalle, Aurelia Santoro, Michele Carbonelli, Pietro D'Agati, Marco Filardi, Pietro Avanzini, Piero Barboni, Corrado Zenesini, Flavia Baccari, Rocco Liguori, Caterina Tonon, Raffaele Lodi, Valerio Carelli
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the melanopsin retinal ganglion cell (mRGC) system in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a multi-modal approach. The results showed dysfunction of the mRGC system in AD patients, which may contribute to circadian impairment.
ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Estelle A. C. Bonin, Nicolas Lejeune, Emilie Szymkowicz, Vincent Bonhomme, Charlotte Martial, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys, Aurore Thibaut
Summary: The assessment and management of pain and nociception in patients unable to communicate functionally is a challenge. There is a lack of clear guidelines for the assessment, management, and treatment of pain in these populations. This review aims to examine the current knowledge and suggest research directions to improve the management of severely brain damaged patients.
FRONTIERS IN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Charlotte Martial, Anne-Lise Poirrier, Laurence Pottier, Helena Cassol, Sepehr Mortaheb, Rajanikant Panda, Mateo Lopez, Thibault Perrin, Antoine Boilevin, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys
Summary: This study aimed to examine the effect of lemon essential oil inhalation on alertness level and brain functional connectivity. The study found that lemon fragrance inhalation increased alertness level but did not significantly differ from the control condition. It also revealed increased global functional connectivity in the thalamus and decreased connectivity in several cortical regions during lemon fragrance inhalation. The findings suggest that lemon essential oil inhalation can enhance alertness.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Brian L. Edlow, Varina L. Boerwinkle, Jitka Annen, Melanie Boly, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys, Pratik Mukherjee, Louis Puybasset, Robert D. Stevens, Zachary D. Threlkeld, Virginia F. J. Newcombe, Davinia Fernandez-Espejo, Curing Coma Campaign
Summary: Advances in neuroimaging have provided insights into the mechanisms causing disorders of consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries. Neuroimaging techniques have improved diagnosis and prognosis, leading to endorsement of fMRI for clinical evaluation. However, standardized reporting is needed for research and collaboration.
NEUROCRITICAL CARE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jitka Annen, Gianluca Frasso, Glenn J. M. Van der Lande, Estelle A. C. Bonin, Marie M. Vitello, Rajanikant Panda, Arianna Sala, Carlo Cavaliere, Federico Raimondo, Mohamed Ali Bahri, Nicholas D. Schiff, Olivia Gosseries, Aurore Thibaut, Steven Laureys
Summary: We use FDG-PET and EEG to assess cerebral integrity in patients with DoCs within the mesocircuit model framework. Subcortical activation facilitates cortical function according to the mesocircuit hypothesis. The metabolic balance of subcortical mesocircuit areas is informative for diagnosis and is associated with EEG patterns, cortical metabolism, and excitability states in both healthy controls and patients with DoCs. Understanding the pathophysiology of DoCs has translational value for diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marie M. Vitello, Martin J. Rosenfelder, Paolo Cardone, Masachika Niimi, Lina Willacker, Aurore Thibaut, Nicolas Lejeune, Steven Laureys, Andreas Bender, Olivia Gosseries
Summary: This study aims to compare the effects of stimulating the frontal and parietal areas of the brain on patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). It will assess the short- and long-term effects of rTMS on consciousness recovery and develop biomarkers of responsiveness using EEG analysis. The study will also identify the optimal brain region for stimulation and characterize the neural correlates of its action.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Anne-Francoise Rousseau, Laurence Dams, Quentin Massart, Laila Choquer, Helena Cassol, Steven Laureys, Benoit Misset, Nadia Dardenne, Olivia Gosseries, Charlotte Martial
Summary: This prospective study conducted in the ICU aimed to investigate the incidence of NDE in ICU survivors with various causes and factors affecting its frequency. The results showed that the recall of NDE is not rare in the ICU, and cognitive and spiritual factors outweigh medical parameters as predictors of NDE.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Marie M. Vitello, Marie-Michele Briand, Didier Ledoux, Jitka Annen, Riem El Tahry, Steven Laureys, Didier Martin, Olivia Gosseries, Aurore Thibaut
Summary: This clinical trial aims to assess the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) and investigate the neural mechanisms underlying its action. The study will recruit 44 patients in the early post-injury period and compare the effects of active stimulation and sham stimulation on behavioral and neurophysiological measures. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the role and neural correlates of taVNS in the treatment of DoC patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
