“Scientists have been able to reach into the mind of a brain-damaged man and communicate with his thoughts. The research, carried out in the UK and Belgium, involved a new brain scanning method. Awareness was detected in three other patients previously diagnosed as being in a vegetative state.
The study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that scans can detect signs of awareness in patients thought to be closed off from the world. Patients in a vegetative state are awake, not in a coma, but have no awareness because of severe brain damage. ”
Read more and watch the video at BBC News (Thanks LadyClaire and KirstyJ)
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Having worked within this area and seeing it for myself (Pvs) it’s so exciting to see a development like this!!!!
Having worked in this area and seeing it for myself it’s so exciting to see a development like this!!!!!
As interesting as that is it’s also kind of horrifying.
You may hope, that if this type of research ever leads to something that can be used to the benefit of patients’ well being (if that is their death, so be it), it will be done and used only for that, not for cutting down on costs. Cutting down on costs (these patients cost quite a lot without most of them ever coming out of that state) will be a drive behind this type of research as well. Not that keeping them alive just for the well being of relatives/partners should be a drive either. Communication with the patients self is indeed what most will seek for in realtiy to determine whether they should letting them alive or letting them go. Not that I can’t imagine how hard it will be to let go someone, and at the same time .. to keep them alive.
I myself would not want to live like that, in a vegative state.
r999z4b Could they wait for the decision to pull the plug but before that give a direct electric charge to the brain like a quick start/spark to fuel the cells and if they die it doesn’t matter (if you know what I mean). Like one last hit/shot
Hat of for these studies and i hope they won´t ever give up trying.
Imagine being in an accident somewhere far of and your seriously wounded and no 1 comes to your aid for ages…
Imagine the relief these patients must feel deep down …it´s still in early stages but who knows what they can communicate back and forth overtime to help quicken their own recovery…
This whole study might give us all important insights into conciousness too.
Oh please! What if by yes they mean no?