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The challenge of disentangling reportability and phenomenal consciousness in post-comatose states

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2008

Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse ,
Marie-Aurélie Bruno ,
Serge Brédart ,
Alain Plenevaux  and
Steven Laureys
Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse
Affiliation:
Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B30, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Marie-Aurélie Bruno
Affiliation:
Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B30, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Serge Brédart
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Science, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B32, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Alain Plenevaux
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Sciences, Cyclotron Research Center, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B30, 4000 Liège, Belgium. avanhaudenhuyse@student.ulg.ac.bewww.comascience.orgmarieaureliebruno@[email protected]://www.fapse.ulg.ac.be/Lab/Cog/[email protected]://www.ulg.ac.be/crc/[email protected]
Steven Laureys
Affiliation:
Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center, University of Liège, Sart Tilman B30, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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Abstract

Determining whether or not noncommunicative patients are phenomenally conscious is a major clinical and ethical challenge. Clinical assessment is usually limited to the observation of these patients' motor responses. Recent neuroimaging technology and brain computer interfaces help clinicians to assess whether patients are conscious or not, and to avoid diagnostic errors.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 30 , Issue 5-6 , December 2007 , pp. 529 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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