Neurophysiologic approach to patient with disorders of consciousness

The neurophysiologic approach to patient with disorders of consciousness consent the recording of electrical activities of both central and peripheral nervous system and provides a functional assessment. The aim of this study was to assess the residual cognitive function in vegetative state and minimally conscious state patients by using “Neurowave”, a system to monitor Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) with stimulations. Five VS and one MCS patients were undergo to a neurological examination and clinical evaluation by using validated clinical and behavioral scales. All patient underwent to neuro-sensory stimulation consisted of administering a set of target images (rare stimuli), emotionally significant in the history of personal life of the patients alternate to images no-target (“standard” stimuli), without any emotional interaction with simultaneous ERPs recording. Preliminary data obtained allow to observe the significant differences in ERPs between vegetative state and minimally conscious state patients. This approach could assess the improvement the diagnostic marker for unresponsive or low-responsive patients