Detecting signs of learning in persons diagnosed to be in a post-coma vegetative state and minimally conscious state (MCS) may modify their diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old female in a vegetative state. We used microswitch-based technology that is based on patient response to eye-blinking. We followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. We observed the level of response during the B phases was higher than the level of A and C phases. This indicated the patient showed signs of learning. This state was confirmed by an evaluation through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR) score, and after completion of this study her CRSR score changed from 4 to 10. We believe microswitch technology may be useful to make a diagnosis of MCS and offer new opportunities for education to MCS patients.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Exploring the clinical diagnostic value of linguistic learning ability in patients with disorders of consciousness using electrooculography Xiangyue Xiao, Junhua Ding, Mingyan Yu, Zhicai Dong, Sara Cruz, Nai Ding, Charlène Aubinet, Steven Laureys, Haibo Di, Yan Chen NeuroImage.2024; 297: 120753. CrossRef
An assistive technology program for enabling five adolescents emerging from a minimally conscious state to engage in communication, occupation, and leisure opportunities Fabrizio Stasolla, Alessandro O. Caffò, Sara Bottiroli, Donatella Ciarmoli Developmental Neurorehabilitation.2022; 25(3): 193. CrossRef
The Integration of Assistive Technology and Virtual Reality for Assessment and Recovery of Post-coma Patients With Disorders of Consciousness: A New Hypothesis Fabrizio Stasolla, Leonarda Anna Vinci, Maria Cusano Frontiers in Psychology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
A Behavioral Approach to Treatment and Assessment of People with Disorders of Consciousness: The Response-contingent Stimulation Strategy Giulio E. Lancioni, Marta Olivetti Belardinelli, Nirbhay N. Singh, Mark F. O’Reilly, Jeff Sigafoos, Gloria Alberti, Lorenzo Desideri Journal of Integrative Neuroscience.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Assessment and Intervention with Patients with Severe Disorders of Consciousness Giulio E. Lancioni, Andrea Bosco, Mark F. O’Reilly, Jeff Sigafoos, Marta Olivetti Belardinelli Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.2017; 1(3): 196. CrossRef
Evidence of trace conditioning in comatose patients revealed by the reactivation of EEG responses to alerting sounds Elsa Juan, Nathalie Ata Nguepnjo Nguissi, Athina Tzovara, Dragana Viceic, Marco Rusca, Mauro Oddo, Andrea O. Rossetti, Marzia De Lucia NeuroImage.2016; 141: 530. CrossRef
Microswitch-aided programs with contingent stimulation versus general stimulation programs for post-coma persons with multiple disabilities Giulio E. Lancioni, Nirbhay N. Singh, Mark F. O’Reilly, Vanessa A. Green, Francesca Buonocunto, Valentina Sacco, Jorge Navarro, Crocifissa Lanzilotti, Marta Olivetti Belardinelli Developmental Neurorehabilitation.2014; 17(4): 251. CrossRef