[Advances in electroencephalography for detecting cognitive-motor dissociation in disorders of consciousness]

Disorders of consciousness including coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS)/the vegetative state (VS), and minimally conscious state (MCS), are a prevalent complication following severe brain injury. Cognitive-motor dissociation (CMD), characterized by absent behavioral signs of consciousness but preserved neural activation detected by electroencephalography (EEG) or advanced imaging, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), occurs in approximately 25% of behaviorally unresponsive patients. As a non-invasive, bedside tool, EEG provides critical insights into consciousness levels and residual cognitive capacity, with CMD detection carrying significant prognostic implications. This review synthesizes recent advances in EEG-based diagnosis and prognosis of disorders of consciousness and CMD.