1. A learning assessment procedure as a test supplement for monitoring progress with two post-coma persons with a diagnosis of vegetative state.
- Author
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Lancioni, Giulio, Singh, Nirbhay, O'Reilly, Mark, Olivetti, Marta, de Tommaso, Marina, Navarro, Jorge, Colonna, Fabio, Lanzilotti, Crocifissa, Buonocunto, Francesca, and Sacco, Valentina
- Subjects
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY ,LEARNING ,LOSS of consciousness ,MAGNETIC resonance imaging ,SCALES (Weighing instruments) ,TOMOGRAPHY ,PERSISTENT vegetative state ,COMA ,REHABILITATION for brain injury patients ,DATA analysis software ,BLINKING (Physiology) ,PATIENTS - Abstract
Objective: Evaluating a learning assessment procedure for monitoring progress with two post-coma adults with a diagnosis of vegetative state. Method: ABABCBCB and ABABCB designs were used for the two participants, with A representing baseline, B intervention and C control conditions. Participants' activation of an optic microswitch by eyelid closure produced stimulation during B phases. Results: One participant increased responding during B phases and decreased it during the C condition, suggesting a non-reflective minimal level of consciousness. She showed P300 and mismatch negativity responses and scored at the vegetative level on the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). The other participant increased responding during the initial B phases without decline during the first (viable) part of the C condition, suggesting a pre-conscious level. He showed indistinct P300 and mismatch negativity responses and vegetative-level scores on the CRS-R. Conclusion: Learning data seemed reconcilable with neurophysiological measures and more positive than CRS-R scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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