[Functional magnetic imaging of brain cortical activities in minimally conscious patients stimulated by visual presentation].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a large-scale visual network and visual consciousness are still retained in the patients with minimally conscious state (MCT) and the possibility of promoting the rehabilitation of brain function by visual stimulation.

METHODS

Fifteen standardized pictures provided by the International Affective Picture System (IAPS2005) were passively presented to 10 normal adult controls and 9 patients in MCT recovering from severe craniocerebral injury or cerebral hemorrhage. Functional magnetic imaging was conducted. The AFNI software was used to process the images thus collected.

RESULTS

The primary visual cortex, occipital lobe, and the secondary visual cortexes, including temporal lobe, parietal lobe, fusiform gyrus, orbital gyrus, and prefrontal lobe were all activated in the 10 normal persons. Similar visual activation was found in 2 of the patients in MCS, however, with a smaller activation volume. Activation of partial visual network was found in 3 patients and the other 4 failed to be activated.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to promote the rehabilitation of brain function by visual stimulation in the patients in MCS.