Functional neuroanatomy of disorders of consciousness

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 30; pp. 28 - 32
• Main Authors: Di Perri, Carol, Stender, Johan, Laureys, Steven, Gosseries, Olivia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Awareness; Brain - pathology; Brain - physiopathology; Brain connectivity; Coma; Consciousness; Consciousness Disorders - diagnosis; General anesthesia; Humans; Minimally conscious state; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Neuroanatomy; Neuroimaging; Neuroimaging techniques; Neurology; Vegetative/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome; Coma; Consciousness; Minimally conscious state; EEG; General anesthesia; UWS; fMRI; Brain connectivity; Vegetative/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome; DOC; TMS; MCS; VS; Neuroimaging techniques; electroencephalography; unresponsive wakefulness syndrome; transcranial magnetic stimulation; vegetative state; minimally conscious state; disorders of consciousness; functional magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.09.014

Our understanding of the mechanisms of loss and recovery of consciousness, following severe brain injury or during anesthesia, is changing rapidly. Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that patients with chronic disorders of consciousness and subjects undergoing general anesthesia present a complex dysfunctionality in the architecture of brain connectivity. At present, the global hallmark of impaired consciousness appears to be a multifaceted dysfunctional connectivity pattern with both within-network loss of connectivity in a widespread frontoparietal network and between-network hyperconnectivity involving other regions such as the insula and ventral tegmental area. Despite ongoing efforts, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of consciousness after severe brain injury are not thoroughly understood. Important questions remain unanswered: What triggers the connectivity impairment leading to disorders of consciousness? Why do some patients recover from coma, while others with apparently similar brain injuries do not? Understanding these mechanisms could lead to a better comprehension of brain function and, hopefully, lead to new therapeutic strategies in this challenging patient population. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Epilepsy and Consciousness. •Consciousness is oversimply divided into awareness and wakefulness.•We focussed on neuroimaging studies related to disorders of consciousness and anesthesia.•Recent studies have shed light on the mechanisms underlying consciousness.•Consciousness is related to complex and dynamic brain connectivity patterns.•These aspects concern both reduced and increased functional connectivity.