Up to one in four patients who are unresponsive after suffering serious brain injuries might actually still be conscious – indicating more patients may be aware of their surroundings than previously realized, new research suggests.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18838026

Up to one in four patients who are unresponsive after suffering serious brain injuries might actually still be conscious – indicating more patients may be aware of their surroundings than previously realized, new research suggests.

This state of ‘hidden consciousness’ is now officially known as cognitive motor dissociation (CMD), where cognitive (or thinking) abilities aren’t connected to motor (or movement) abilities. Researchers have been looking into CMD for several years.

However, 62 percent of an additional 112 patients who were visibly responding to instructions at the bedside didn’t exhibit the expected brain signals showing responsiveness – so the researchers suggest their methods still don’t detect everyone with cognitive function.

  • @[email protected]
    47•29 days ago

    I can’t imagine a greater hell than being trapped in my own mind without the ability to move or communicate. This is interesting and unsettling at the same time.

    • @Okokimup
      4•29 days ago

      This is the premise of Johnny Got His Gun, an anti-war novel by Dalton Trumbo.

        • @shalafiEnglish
          4•29 days ago

          Metallica’s first ever video. My teenage ass stumbled in one night, turned on Mtv’s Headbanger Ball and saw, “The world premiere of Metallica’s ONE!”

          Jesus help me, did not expect that.

          (For those not around at the time, Metallica swore to never sell out and do an Mtv video. Ever.)

      • @[email protected]
        2•29 days ago

        I didn’t realize that was Trumbo or that he wrote novels. All I knew of him was scripts. Thanks for that info.