Sleep patterns may reveal comatose patients with hidden consciousness: Study
Summary
Researchers have found that monitoring sleep brain waves, specifically sleep spindles, can help identify comatose brain-injury patients with hidden consciousness who are more likely to recover long-term neurological function.
Key Points
- Up to a quarter of unresponsive brain-injury patients may have hidden consciousness detectable through brain activity.
- Researchers at Columbia University found that sleep spindles in EEG recordings indicate intact brain circuits critical for consciousness.
- Patients with sleep spindles and cognitive motor dissociation were significantly more likely to regain consciousness and functional independence.
- Improving sleep quality in ICU environments may promote recovery, though predictors are not yet perfect or ready for clinical use.
