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Words without mind
1Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 1300 York Avenue, NY, NY 10021, USA. nschiff@mail.med. cornell.edu
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Even in a deeply unconscious brain, specific neuronal groups can generate isolated words. This study used advanced brain imaging to reveal preserved, albeit fragmented, brain activity patterns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Investigating brain function in prolonged unconsciousness is crucial for understanding consciousness and brain plasticity.
- Assessing residual cognitive and linguistic capabilities in patients with severe brain damage offers insights into neural network resilience.
Observation:
- A woman in a 20-year unconscious state spontaneously produced isolated words.
- Fluorodeoxy-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed global hypometabolism, akin to deep anesthesia.
- Islands of preserved metabolism were identified in Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
Findings:
- Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) imaging revealed preserved dynamic patterns of spontaneous and evoked brain activity.
- Specific gamma-band activity (near 40 Hz) showed abnormal responses to auditory and somatosensory stimulation in the left hemisphere.
- MEG localized these responses to the auditory cortex, overlapping with PET-identified metabolically active regions.
Implications:
- Demonstrates that isolated neuronal groups can exhibit activity in a severely damaged, unconscious brain.
- Suggests that word generation, even in fragments, may rely on modular brain networks.
- Highlights the potential for residual function and targeted therapeutic interventions in patients with disorders of consciousness.
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