A study co-led by Mass General Brigham revealed that 25% of patients with severe brain injuries, who seemed unresponsive, covertly followed instructions. This finding could inform decisions regarding life-sustaining treatments.
A recent study co-led by experts at Mass General Brigham has revealed that brain scans can identify signs of consciousness in certain brain injury patients who are otherwise unresponsive.
In the study, 241 participants with severe brain injury who do not respond when given a simple instruction were assessed with functional MRI (Emerging Consciousness Program at Mass General Hospital offers these evaluations clinically, however elsewhere, a patient may have to enroll in a research study to get tested. We know that cognitive motor dissociation is not uncommon, but resources and infrastructure are required to optimize detection of this condition and provide adequate support to patients and their families.”
The researchers added that the findings may spur research of specific interventions to foster effective communication, including brain-computer interfaces.
A separate team of Mass General Brigham researchers are investigating brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) as a potential intervention that may one day have applications to many types of patients unable to effectively communicate. Another study published in the same August 15th issue of New England Journal of Medicine from co-author Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD of Mass General Hospital’s Department of Neurology and Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, reported that a man with ALS and severely impaired speech used an investigational BCI implant to convert his attempted speech into text on a screen. Read more about that study, and about the BrainGate clinical trials for which Hochberg serves as principal investigator.
Reference: “Cognitive Motor Dissociation in Disorders of Consciousness” by Yelena G. Bodien, Judith Allanson, Paolo Cardone, Arthur Bonhomme, Jerina Carmona, Camille Chatelle, Srivas Chennu, Mary Conte, Stanislas Dehaene, Paola Finoia, Gregory Heinonen, Jennifer E. Hersh, Evelyn Kamau, Phoebe K. Lawrence, Victoria C. Lupson, Anogue Meydan, Benjamin Rohaut, William R. Sanders, Jacobo D. Sitt, Andrea Soddu, Mélanie Valente, Angela Velazquez, Henning U. Voss, Athina Vrosgou, Jan Claassen, Brian L. Edlow, Joseph J. Fins, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys, David Menon, Lionel Naccache, Adrian M. Owen, John Pickard, Emmanuel A. Stamatakis, Aurore Thibaut, Jonathan D. Victor, Joseph T. Giacino, Emilia Bagiella and Nicholas D. Schiff, 14 August 2024, New England Journal of Medicine.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2400645
The study was funded by the James S. McDonnell Foundation. Bodien is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research: H133A120085; 90DPTB0011; and 90DPTB0027.
Discussion about this post