This Neuroscientist Uses fMRI to Communicate With People in a Vegetative State | Freethink

Whether some patients in vegetative states were actually "there" has always been a mystery. Most people thought it would never be possible to know. Neuroscientist Adrian Owen, author of "Into The Gray Zone" and a professor at Western University in Canada decided to try to communicate with them with the help of fMRI technology to monitor brain activity. He found, amazingly, that around 20% of people in vegetative states are actually aware of their surroundings - and thanks to his technique, able to communicate for the first time.

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[mm-rjvo]

Kate was probably screaming in her mind, after that test, "Yes, my god, yes, you found me" and that makes me cry so much. The hope, the joy, the emotion... The sheer, ripping emotion of being found again. Being seen again. Her "self" rediscovered... Gosh, is it inspiring.

[MatthewCobalt]

I'm both amazed and morbidly sad.
The fact that even a fraction of patients that were in a vegetative state could actually be mentally but not physical conscious is very tragic.

[pspreng]

How amazing! About five years ago I was hit by a car as I walked across the street and spent the next couple of months in a coma after receiving TBI brain surgery. I'm just glad the doctors knew what they were doing and didn't give up on me.

[ISpeakHTML]

This is astonishing. Holy cow. I'm so excited. Thank everyone who put their time and effort into this research and video highlighting it

[clovertaylor]

I have worked with numerous children that are unable to move their bodies. The group that I was with used a mouse replacement system that uses eye movement and transfers it to computers. Wherever the child would look, the mouse would follow. It was amazing that they were able to communicate with me through their eyes. I find it very sad that many people still believe that people who are in a vegetative state have no awareness and sometimes believe they are are dumb. They know what's going on, they just have no way to communicate. Imagine being trapped inside your body, isolated from the whole world.

[pagetvido]

They found 20% of patients were stuck in a vegetative state, having to lie there day in day out with nothing to do. That's horrific. At least now they might be able to play some audio books or something for them to help ease the mind numbing boredom.

[elainemarie]

Wow.
OMG, why hasn't this been done long ago? I cannot imagine being considered to be in a vegetative state, when in fact fully awake & aware. It's like being buried alive, one of my greatest fesrs.
God bless this man for carrying this out.

[gamescience]

You guys deserve way more subscribers! Keep up the amazing content quality and thank you for doing these videos!

[lxverdant]

This channel blows my mind! Nice video Freethink!

[vendetta]

I really hope this technology will progress more because the thought of getting ALS and then getting put down is really horrifying.

[gabrieljauregui]

Hi, I'm professor Gabriel Jauregui from the Catholic University of Cordoba. I made a new spanish translation for this video to watch with my students here in Argentina. I would like you to acept my contributions so latinamerican people can use those captions. Thank You.

[kingkillertwo]

I totally support this; i am not old enough to donate but i support

[KrystianWlr]

Wow. I hope that the research on this will move forward.

[Lyniquechunte]

Jesus I thought there was a way to do this already, You mean to tell me we just figured it out? Wow !! Thank you so much for not giving up !!! I’m literally bawling 😭 !!! Thank you!!!

[simone.]

Brainscan mind-reading is like decoding the language from Arrival.

[ocmetals]

Can you imagine this breakthrough aided by AI and VR? In a few years you could put on your VR headset and talk to your loved one!

[altinbey]

Tbh if I was ever in that situation I'd rather be put down than live like that

[blazingnerd]

You Know what. That's nice. This is a great thing to do for these people

[baguette]

one of the few ads i actually watched lol good job

[BioToa]

This is the sort of technology research that could possibly lead to a technology from shows like Sword Art Online