Measuring consciousness in coma and related states
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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients
Published on: February 6, 2021
Carol Di Perri1, Aurore Thibaut1, Lizette Heine1
1Carol Di Perri, Neuroradiology, National Neurological Institute C Mondino, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Abstract:
Consciousness is a prismatic and ambiguous concept that still eludes any universal definition. Severe acquired brain injuries resulting in a disorder of consciousness (DOC) provide a model from which insights into consciousness can be drawn. A number of recent studies highlight the difficulty in making a diagnosis in patients with DOC based only on behavioral assessments. Here we aim to provide an overview of how neuroimaging techniques can help assess patients with DOC. Such techniques are expected to facilitate a more accurate understanding of brain function in states of unconsciousness and to improve the evaluation of the patient's cognitive abilities by providing both diagnostic and prognostic indicators.
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