Typically, patients who have been in a coma for a long time face less chance of waking up. However, a new study, published on futurism.com, has shown that using electrodes to deliver electrical shocks to a specific region of the brain associated with consciousness can offer hope in even the most seemingly hopeless cases. For example, an experiment conducted within the walls of the University of Wisconsin shows that specially designed brain implants can allow patients affected by an accident or illness to lead a normal daily life.
A device that can bring a person out of a coma
Coma is an extremely poorly understood human condition characterized by complete depression of the central nervous system. It is known that at the moment such a condition is very common, accounting for up to 3% of all visits to the intensive care unit. The longest case of being in a coma is considered to be the case of Edward O'Bara, who was in a coma for 42 years. Unfortunately, the woman did not manage to get out of the state, which led to her death in 2012. Another similar incident was the incident with Terry Wallace, who was in a coma for about 17 years. Miraculously survived after a car accident, the man fell into a coma, which, fortunately for those close to Wallace, ended successfully, and Terry himself fully recovered in the shortest possible time.
In order to give hope to patients in a coma, in one of the experiments of American researchers, special electrodes were implanted into the brain of experimental monkeys, which allowed scientists to carry out one of the methods of deep brain stimulation. To carry out the manipulation, the scientists needed to implant special devices into the brains of animals that sent electrical impulses to the area of the central lateral thalamus. As it turned out, stimulation of this area of the brain allowed the monkeys to open their eyes, move their limbs and bodies. In addition, according to the source, during the experiment, even the vital signs of animals, which are body temperature, heart rate and pulse of a living creature, changed. Be that as it may, immediately after the cessation of stimulation, the monkeys again fell into a coma.
Deep brain stimulation has shown good results in bringing monkeys back from coma.
The researchers are confident that although it will take several years before the results of the experiment can be applied in practice, the first steps in creating a brain implant for returning patients from coma have already been taken. To further improve the technology, scientists will need to conduct additional tests on monkeys, the results of which will allow specialists to see if animals can perform more complex tasks under the influence of intense brain stimulation.
After animal tests are completed, and the treatment is found to be effective, the technology for awakening from a coma can be tested for the first time in humans.
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Daria Eletskaya