Did A Google Earth Mistake Cause A Couple's Brutal Murder?
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Brain Scans Let Vegetative Patients 'Talk' to Researchers
A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined 54 patients; 23 in a vegetative state, meaning non-responsive but eyes open, while the other 31 were minimally conscious. The subjects were asked by the doctors to imagine two scenes, one in which they were playing tennis, and another in which they were walking down a familiar street or into a familiar room. The fMRI (Functional MRI) scans taken during these tests were then compared to scans taken from a fully healthy control group asked to picture the same scene.
The brain scans of five of the incapacitated patients (four of which were in a vegetative state) matched those of the healthy group indicating there was a level of consciousness. In fact, the scans were used to "talk" with one patient who was asked to imagine one scene for yes and another for no when posed simple questions.
It is worth noting that the findings do not apply to patients in a coma and only to those who had suffered a traumatic injury. Those in a vegetative state due to oxygen deprivation did not react to the testing. However, further research is needed, and for now performing fMRIs is both impractical and expensive.
The study, along with other recent events, is sure to spark urgency in those seeking guidance deciding whether or not to pull the plug on a loved one. [From: New England Journal of Medicine, via Discovery News]
Related Links:
Amy Adams' Bikini Body Isn't What You'd Expect ...
St. Louis Sports Bar Gives Man Receipt Criticizing His Child
What's Behind This Door Is Terrifying
'Undercover Boss': Top 4 Moments From Season 4 [VIDEO]
Las Vegas Court Officials Accused Of Covering Up Sex Assault [VIDEO]
Helen Lost 82 Pounds: 'Helping Others Is What Life Is All About'
Groomers Lose Dog, Claim Not Responsible
Male Judge Sets Dress Code For Female Lawyers And Sparks Uproar
'Sopranos' Star Dies At Age 51
'Lone Ranger' Star Johnny Depp Opens Up About Split From Vanessa Paradis
The Story Behind Shapewear: From Girdles to Spanx
Men's Wearhouse Abruptly Fires Its Founder, Spokesman
'Grease' Cast: Where Are They Now?
Xbox One-80: Microsoft reverses Xbox One DRM features
Michael Hastings Dead At 33
Careless Chinese Baggage Handler Really Throws Himself Into His Work
'Today' About To Undergo Another Overhaul
PHOTOS: Beautifully Abandoned America
WATCH: Porn Star Says My Dad's Angry I Ruined Porn For Him
Khloe's Workout Photos Are Pretty Alarming
LOOK: Teen Was 'Shamed' By TSA Officer For This Outfit
5 Ways To Get A Flat Stomach -- While Standing Up
PHOTOS: Michelle Obama's Ireland Trip Wardrobe Is Making Us Jealous
LOOK: China Invented The Weirdest Way Ever To Ward Off Pervs
41 Busted In Child Sex Sting
WATCH: The Amazing Moment A Trapped Fox Approaches Men For Help
Axl Rose Doesn't Look Like This Anymore ...
7 Beautiful Actresses Who Were Told They Weren't Pretty Enough
PHOTO: Brazilian Officer Pepper-Sprays Female Protester In The Face
Outrage Over Class Photo: 'Adults Should Know Better'
EPIC FAIL
Helen's Secret Surgery
Comments
17
Subscribe to commentsnamkariFeb 6th 2010 6:59PM
First! Wahoo! This story is really amazing.
al schraderFeb 7th 2010 6:13AM
I was dead in 1978 but the ER people brought me back. You don't die instantly like you see it on tv. You can't speak or open your eyes, but your mind is still working & your flesh will stay alive for quite awhile.
The first thing that happens is the sound stops. What sound ? Cup your hand over your ear. That "ocean waves" sound is the sound that stops. Two milliseconds later a horrific panic sets in that can't be imagined. There are no lights or fairy tales. There's nothing there, no light, no dark, no gray, no warm, no cold, no nothing. People that commit suicide are fools. You don't go to a better place, you don't go anyplace, trust me. Been there, done that....Al-
bolo5000Feb 6th 2010 7:48PM
How do you know this guy wasn't laying there with a headache for 23 years? What a curse, headache or no.
KatieFeb 6th 2010 8:10PM
Remember tha Shavo (sp) woman who was starved/dehydrated to death a few yearsa ago because she was declared to be in a vegetative state? A story like this one should make her husband and doctors, plus the judges who ruled in their favor -- in direct opposition to her parents and several nurses who had cared for her -- feel real sorrow and regret for the decision.
tracerFeb 11th 2010 7:54PM
The husbands lawyer is an advocate of the people who want to pull the plug. And I woud not be surprised if the judge was an advocate also. Its the same way with scientologist in Florida. They have a large following of all occupations and pay there dues for the so called right to practice there e meter sessions and hands in the pants of the beholders.
JanetFeb 7th 2010 1:24AM
I remember. Terry Schiavo was done a great injustice. Many of us wrote letters and protested and made phone calls in her support. I was very upset and angry that her husband was allowed to kill her. He should have forfeited his status as next of kin when he got involved with that other woman. Her parents had genuine love for her. They knew she was not in a total vegetative state.
dazed1821Feb 7th 2010 1:37AM
Terri Schiavo would be in the control group that did not have response if you actually read the article. Her brain injury was the result of being oxygen deprived. The control group that showed no response according to this(it was limited to people who had traumatic brain injuries) was oxygen deprived. So I'm pretty sure her husband and those that made a decision on her behalf need have no regret for their decision.
Jski4Feb 6th 2010 8:32PM
Terry Shiavo should have NEVER been starved to death. Her family was right in trying to keep her alive but her lowlife husband won. May she rest in heaven and her so-called husband a place a little warmer.
MarieFeb 6th 2010 8:35PM
I do not care if my brain shows signs of life - stick a needle in me and let me go.
MsberteFeb 6th 2010 8:37PM
This is the reason Terri Schiavo should not have been starved to death but her lousy so-called "husband" won. May she rest in heaven and her husband rest in a place alot hotter.
kayFeb 6th 2010 11:37PM
What reason are you refering to? These are only tests at best. If someone is "brain dead" so what is this suppose to prove? They're not communicating with anyone. I seriously doubt these tests about all they're good for is to give false hope.
MeaFeb 6th 2010 11:33PM
I had the experience of becoming completely awake during surgery but being totally paralyzed and unable to move even an eyelash. I could hear everything the doctors were saying but I could not let them know that I was in horrible pain and could feel everything they were doing. I wondered if that was what it was like to be in a vegetative state - to know everything that was goign on but not able to communicate. I definitely would rather be dead. finally there must have been some change of expression on my face or something because one of the doctors told the nurse to give me more Morphine. Morphine does not relieve pain for me but it can knock me out, so at least I missed the rest of that surgery, but I awoke in post-op with the same problem. When they took me to my room I told them not to give me any more Morphine because it was not working!
JanetFeb 7th 2010 1:30AM
I have known of other people who have undergone surgery feeling the entire thing and being paralyzed and unable to communicate. I feel so badly for you. I need some future surgeries, and I think I will speak to my surgeon about this phenomenon prior to these surgeries. This should never happen to anyone.
xxrosexofxsharynFeb 6th 2010 10:20PM
Keeping someone in that condition is beyond cruel, and in this case it's basically just for the "use" of the so called researchers/doctors so they can have a guinea pig that can't actually protest outloud or something. If they could actually talk in that state I don't think they would be answering stupid questions rather than saying something along the lines of if you can't get me out of this hell then just kill me. That's what I would be screaming anyway...that is no way of "living". These so called doctors that keep people alive this way know damn well they would rather be dead than be that way but it's ok to keep someone else in that hell so they won't be sued for putting the poor person out of their misery. Families that want someone to stay that way are beyond selfish or misinformed and not able to accept reality. I can't believe someone was kept that way for 23 years! That makes me sick. They are not "talking" to anyone through these stupid tests that they are probably put through over and over as if things weren't bad enough already like they have any choice in the matter either.
HeatherFeb 6th 2010 10:36PM
I think that if I were in a vegetative state but was actually aware of everything going on - that would be even worse than if I was totally brain dead. I'd want that plug pulled either way. That's no way to live.
kayFeb 6th 2010 11:37PM
You are so right!! If more people could see a patient in a vegetative state they would rush out to sign a living will. Most patients declared brain dead have no brain activity, but the family visits and because a patient blinks or moves their eyes, the family just knows they're communicating with them. Not so the patient makes the same movements and noises when they're in the room alone. It's a tough decision to stop someone's heart when the brain is dead, not one I would want to have to make. I have my living will, I do not care to exist in a bed no brain no life for me!
oleperfesurFeb 7th 2010 12:35PM
Gee, I'm in a vegitative state. Chance of becoming a viable human at .00001%. Hey I'm 70, if I become vegitative. Pull the plug. I have no desire to die tomorrow but if it happens, oh well.