Man regains consciousness after 15 years, thanks to nerve stimulation
After a car accident had left a
35-year-old man in a vegetative state for 15 years, nerve stimulation literally
helped bring him back to life. According to a case study, a nerve stimulator
was implanted into the man's chest, after which he began to show signs of
consciousness.
The case, published in the journal
Current Biology, shows that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) – a treatment already
used for patients suffering from epilepsy and depression – can help restore
consciousness even after many years in a vegetative state. The outcome
challenges the general belief that disorders of consciousness that persist for
longer than 12 months are irreversible, the researchers said.
"By stimulating the vagus
nerve, we show that it is possible to improve a patient's presence in the
world," said Angela Sirigu, from the Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc
Jeannerod in France.
The vagus nerve connects the brain
to many other parts of the body, including the gut. It is known to be important
in waking, alertness, and many other essential functions.
To test the ability of VNS to
restore consciousness, the researchers wanted to select a difficult case to
ensure that any improvements could not be explained by chance. They looked into
the case of a patient who had been lying in a vegetative state for more than a
decade with no sign of improvement.
After one month of vagal nerve
stimulation, the patient's attention, movements and brain activity
significantly improved. The man began responding to simple orders that had been
impossible before. Recordings of brain activity also showed major changes. The
theta EEG signal - important for distinguishing between a vegetative and
minimally conscious state - increased significantly in areas of the brain
involved in movement, sensation, and awareness.
VNS also increased the brain's
functional connectivity. A PET scan showed increases in metabolic activity in
both cortical and subcortical regions of the brain, too. The findings show that
the right intervention can yield changes in consciousness even in the most
severe clinical cases.
Source: www.zeenews.india.com 27.09.2017
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing
Socrates
No comments:
Post a Comment