Electrophysiology in disorders of consciousness

Authors

Mohamed Ridha, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States; Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
Aditya Kumar, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States; Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Jan Claassen, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Electroencephalography (EEG) has emerged as a powerful tool in the diagnosis, characterization, and prognostication of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). EEG is a well-established monitoring tool for the treatment of specific patient populations with impaired consciousness, such as those with status epilepticus and cardiac arrest. The interrogation of neuronal circuitry using evoked and event-related potentials adds prognostic information in comatose individuals. Novel paradigms integrating transcranial magnetic stimulation may provide insights into the underpinnings of arousal and awareness. Covert consciousness, or willful brain activation to motor commands in behaviorally unresponsive patients, may be diagnosed using EEG recordings and has been linked to better outcomes. These advanced EEG methods are increasingly being explored and integrated into the management of DoC patients.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Consciousness Disorders (physiopathology, diagnosis); Electroencephalography (methods); Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (methods); Brain (physiopathology); Evoked Potentials (physiology)

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Publication Title

Handbook of clinical neurology

ISSN

0072-9752

Volume

207

First Page

129

Last Page

146

PubMed ID

39986717

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/B978-0-443-13408-1.00013-0

Recommended Citation

Ridha, Mohamed; Kumar, Aditya; and Claassen, Jan, "Electrophysiology in disorders of consciousness" (2025). Neurology. 2023.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/2023