Nerve implant 'restores consciousness' to man in persistant vegetative state

Stimulation of the vagus nerve allows patient who had been in a persistant vegetative state for 15 years to track objects with his eyes and respond to simple requestsA 35-year-old man who had been in a persistant vegetative state (PVS) for 15 years has shown signs of consciousness after receiving a pioneering therapy involving nerve stimulation.The treatment challenges a widely-accepted view that there is no prospect of a patient recovering consciousness if they have been in PVS for longer than 12 months.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Neuroscience Medical research Source Type: news