Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

1.7K
Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
1.7K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

629
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
629
Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

666
The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
666
Self-Awareness and Its Effects01:21

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

282
Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.
282
Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

1.0K
Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
1.0K
Metacognition01:26

Metacognition

726
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
726

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Making the Invisible Wounds of War Visible.

Military medicine·2026
Same author

Automated EEG Classification to Track Levels of Consciousness.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026
Same author

Surface EEG to Identify Cognitive Motor Dissociation After Acute Brain Injury.

Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society·2026
Same author

Determinants of Delayed Recovery of Consciousness After Analgosedation Discontinuation in the ICU: Insights From Patients With COVID-19 Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure.

Critical care medicine·2026
Same author

A hypothalamic-brainstem activity sequence underlies arousal fluctuations during daytime drowsiness.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Neuropixels Opto: combining high-resolution electrophysiology and optogenetics.

Nature methods·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
07:37

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Published on: August 1, 2017

9.6K

Covert consciousness: what's in a name?

Charlène Aubinet1,2, Jan Claassen3,4, Brian L Edlow5

  • 1Coma Science Group, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium.

Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|September 23, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Up to 25% of unresponsive patients show signs of consciousness via brain activity. We propose the term "covert consciousness" to better describe and communicate these findings in patients with disorders of consciousness.

Keywords:
cognitive motor dissociationcortically mediated statecovert awarenesscovert brain complexityfunctional locked-in syndromenon-behavioural minimally conscious state

More Related Videos

SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients
11:05

SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients

Published on: February 6, 2021

16.7K
A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

691

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
07:37

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Published on: August 1, 2017

9.6K
SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients
11:05

SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients

Published on: February 6, 2021

16.7K
A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

691

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • A significant percentage of behaviorally unresponsive patients exhibit complex brain activity.
  • Current terminology for these patients is varied and often confusing.
  • The distinction between unresponsiveness and unconsciousness is critical for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a standardized term for behaviorally unresponsive patients who show evidence of consciousness.
  • To improve communication regarding disorders of consciousness.
  • To guide assessment and management strategies for these patients.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of brain responses to electrical or magnetic stimulation.
  • Evaluation of electroencephalogram (EEG) differentiation.
  • Assessment of voluntary brain activity modulation in response to commands.

Main Results:

  • Up to 25% of behaviorally unresponsive patients demonstrate high spatio-temporal complexity in brain responses.
  • These complex responses, including differentiated EEG and voluntary modulation, suggest underlying consciousness.
  • Existing terms for this condition are inconsistent.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral unresponsiveness does not always mean unconsciousness.
  • The proposed term 'covert consciousness' offers a unified and accurate descriptor.
  • Adopting 'covert consciousness' will enhance patient assessment, communication, and care for those with disorders of consciousness.