Liège scientist awakes coma patients for two hours

World-renowned coma expert Steven Laureys of the Coma Science Group at Liège University has been able to awake patients temporarily who have been in a coma for months, or even years. Laureys worked specifically with patients in a condition of “minimum consciousness,” which is less serious than the so-called vegetative state.

For 20 minutes, the patients received mild electric waves through their brain, via two electrodes on their skull. Thirteen patients then showed an increased consciousness, which means they could, for example, follow movements with their eyes or answer simple questions. The effect lasted for a maximum of two hours.

Laureys’ team will soon examine how patients react to longer brain stimulation. The research could help scientists to understand how brain networks become active again after being damaged. It could also become a way to assess the condition and treatment of patients and possibly the basis for new treatments.