Brain function in coma, vegetative state, and related disorders — TEI-tagged view

Laureys, Owen, Schiff · 2004 · neuroscience · doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(04)00852-x · full text at the source · TEI xml · tagged edition · index · concepts · authors
Where this record's text came from. faceted 2026-08 by reading the locally held text (pdftext); every evidence string verified as an exact substring of that text before merging. Claim relations is empty: the review cites all prior work by superscript numbers rather than by name, and the few named mentions (Jennett and Plum on the term 'vegetative', Plum and Posner on locked-in syndrome, the Aspen group on MCS criteria, the Multi-Society Task Force on PVS) are descriptions of where the clinical terminology came from, not statements positioning this paper's own claim against named prior work. Per the rule against inferring relations from bare citations, none were recorded. Claim type is 'mechanism' rather than 'critique' because the review's substantive content is the functional neuroanatomy of each state; the caution about neuroimaging not replacing clinical exam is a secondary conclusion. The source text is a preprint-style manuscript whose running title and word counts appear above the abstract. 2026-08-14 and 2026-08-15 schema-0.3 passes: every quote verified as an exact substring of the staged text and anchored at merge time; concept terms verified present; every edge endpoint an existing node. 2026-08-20, the project: THE STAGED TEXT IS THE ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT, NOT THE PUBLISHED VERSION, and it carries a different title - "Brain function in brain death, coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state and locked-in syndrome" against the record's published "Brain function in coma, vegetative state, and related disorders". The published title shortens the manuscript's list to 'related disorders', which is why the record's title occurs ZERO times in its own body and why a title-containment test flags this record. It is NOT the wrong paper: same three authors in the same order (Laureys, Owen, Schiff), same year, same content (brain death, coma, VS, MCS, locked-in, PET/fMRI/MEG, ethics), author-manuscript formatting with postal addresses and fax numbers, 115 references stopping in 2003, and NO self-citation to the Lancet Neurology 2004 version - which a later or different paper by these authors would carry. Every quote remains an exact substring of this text; what differs is which VERSION of the paper the corpus holds.
This record’s own method is review, and the tags below follow from that. A review’s findings, quantities and statistics are things stated IN this paper, and some of them report results obtained elsewhere. No tag on this page names a different author. Measured across every review in this corpus, 81% of a review’s tags carry no citation at all — most of them are the review speaking. The corpus does not adjudicate the rest: read an unmarked tag as a claim this paper makes, not necessarily one it made first.
Other fields define these differently the same word, defined another way in another discipline
consciousness 10 fields
Tags on this paper every tag the record carries, whether or not the words occur in the text below — a number is how many papers in the corpus carry that tag; a tag with no number is unique to this paper
brain death minimally conscious state consciousness20 review319

Our tag layer for this paper

Cross-disciplinary analysis
content-tags & facets: phenomenon · claim-type · cross-domain-transfer · mechanism · claim-relation · replication-status · limitation — grounded in the full text
phenomenondisorders of consciousness after severe brain damage— “We review the nosological criteria and functional neuroanatomical basis for brain death, coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state and the locked-in state.”
claim-typemechanism— “Moreover, in the VS patients, the activated primary somatosensory cortex was shown to exist as an island, functionally disconnected from higher-order associative cortices of the pain-matrix.”
method — evidence— “References were selected on the basis of relevance and accessibility.”
mechanismprogressive Wallerian and transsynaptic neuronal degeneration drives the further fall of brain metabolism as a vegetative state becomes permanent— “This progressive loss of metabolic functioning over time is the result of progressive Wallerian and transsynaptic neuronal degeneration.”mechanisms[0]
mechanismsparing of brainstem structures (pedunculopontine reticular formation, hypothalamus, basal forebrain) preserves arousal and autonomic function while the cortex is impaired, producing wakeful unawareness— “Characteristic of VS patients is a relative sparing of metabolism in the brainstem (encompassing the pedunculopontine reticular formation, the hypothalamus and the basal forebrain).62 The functional preservation of these structures allows for the preserved arousal and autonomic functions in these patients.”mechanisms[1]
mechanismfunctional disconnection of primary sensory cortex from multimodal and limbic areas stops residual cortical processing from reaching the integrative stage held to be necessary for awareness— “Moreover, a cascade of functional disconnections were observed along the auditory cortical pathways, from primary auditory areas to multimodal and limbic areas,70 suggesting that the observed residual cortical processing in the VS does not lead to integrative processes which are thought to be necessary for awareness.”mechanisms[2]
qualifies the irreversible-neuronal-loss reading (ref. 64)— “It is still controversial whether 8 the observed metabolic impairment in this large cortical network reflects an irreversible structural neuronal loss,64 or functional and potentially reversible damage. However, in the rare cases where VS patients recover awareness of self and environment, PET shows a functional recovery of metabolism in… [checked against the archived source, not this rendering]claim_relations[0]
builds-on Andrews et al. 1996, Childs et al. 1993 and five others (refs. 1-7)— “This difficulty is reflected in the frequent misdiagnoses of VS, MCS and locked-in syndrome (LIS).1-7 Bedside evaluation of residual brain function in severely brain-damaged patients is difficult because motor responses may be very limited or inconsistent. In addition, consciousness is not an all-or-none phenomenon8 and its clinical…claim_relations[1]
senseconsciousness - defined here for assessability rather than for correctness: as it can be assessed at the patient's bedside— “In the present review, we will first define consciousness as it can be assessed at the patient’s bedside.”senses[0]
senseconsciousness - explicitly not an all-or-none phenomenon, which is why bedside assessment is difficult— “consciousness is not an all-or-none phenomenon”senses[1]
senseemergence from the minimally conscious state - defined by a capability: functional interactive communication or functional use of objects— “The emergence of MCS is defined by the ability to use functional interactive communication or functional use of objects.”senses[2]
sensebrain death - a category whose criteria are jurisdictional: brainstem death in some countries, whole-brain death in others, with the concept itself 'largely accepted' either way— “Most countries have published recommendations for the diagnosis of brain death but the diagnostic criteria differ from country to country.15 Some rely on the death of the brainstem only,16 others require death of the whole brain”senses[3]
controlstudies whose clinical detail was too thin to guarantee the accuracy of the diagnosis were excluded from the review — held — rules out that the review's conclusions rest on cases whose diagnostic category - coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious - cannot be trusted— “We excluded certain studies in which clinical details provided were insufficient to guarantee accuracy of diagnoses.”controls[0]
differs inthe irreversible-neuronal-loss reading (ref. 64) — WHETHER THE SAME METABOLIC IMPAIRMENT IS DAMAGE OR DYSFUNCTION - and the review states the disagreement rather than settling it: 'It is still controversial whether the observed metabolic impairment in this large cortical network reflects an IRREVERSIBLE STRUCTURAL NEURONAL LOSS, OR FUNCTIONAL AND POTENTIALLY REVERSIBLE DAMAGE.' The evidence offered against the first reading is a rare case class, not a test: 'However, in the rare cases where VS patients recover awareness ... PET SHOWS A FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY of metabolism in these same cortical regions'— “It is still controversial whether 8 the observed metabolic impairment in this large cortical network reflects an irreversible structural neuronal loss,64 or functional and potentially reversible damage. However, in the rare cases where VS patients recover awareness of self and environment, PET shows a functional recovery of metabolism in… [checked against the archived source, not this rendering]— “It is still controversial whether 8 the observed metabolic impairment in this large cortical network reflects an irreversible structural neuronal loss,64 or functional and potentially reversible damage” [checked against the archived source, not this rendering]claim_relations[0]
differs inAndrews et al. 1996, Childs et al. 1993 and five others (refs. 1-7) — WHAT THE MISDIAGNOSIS RATE IS EVIDENCE OF. The review cites seven misdiagnosis studies not as a finding about clinicians but as evidence that THE CATEGORY IS HARD TO APPLY AT THE BEDSIDE, and gives two reasons in the same passage: 'motor responses may be very limited or inconsistent', and 'consciousness is not an all-or-none phenomenon and its clinical assessment relies on inferences made from observed responses to external stimuli at the time of the examination'— “This difficulty is reflected in the frequent misdiagnoses of VS, MCS and locked-in syndrome (LIS).1-7 Bedside evaluation of residual brain function in severely brain-damaged patients is difficult because motor responses may be very limited or inconsistent. In addition…claim_relations[1]
outcome (stated by the tagger, no quotation)control — heldcontrols[0]
for which uselimitation — this patient population specifically: USE OF THESE TECHNIQUES IN SEVERELY BRAIN-DAMAGED PERSONS IS METHODOLOGICALLY COMPLEX AND REQUIRES CAREFUL QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONlimitations[0]
for which uselimitation — any prognostic use of PET metabolism: AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED CORRELATION BETWEEN CEREBRAL METABOLIC RATES OF GLUCOSE OR OXYGEN AS MEASURED BY PET AND PATIENT OUTCOME
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[1]
for which uselimitation — any claim about the minimally conscious state: BECAUSE CRITERIA FOR THE MCS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN INTRODUCED, THERE ARE VERY FEW FUNCTIONAL IMAGING STUDIES OF PATIENTS IN THIS CONDITION
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[2]
for which uselimitation — any consciousness determination in these patients as an objective measurement: the review states it cannot be measured by any machine and requires interpretation of clinical signs
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[3]
for which uselimitation — a brain-death determination as a jurisdiction-independent fact: the review states the diagnostic criteria differ from country to country
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[4]
for which uselimitation — a recorded diagnosis of VS, MCS or locked-in syndrome as settled: the review states misdiagnosis is frequent and assessment infers from responses at the time of examination
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[5]
replicationuntested
limitationThe imaging methods reviewed are hard to apply and interpret in this patient population.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[0]
limitationPET metabolic measures cannot yet be linked to patient outcome.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[1]
limitationThe minimally conscious state has almost no imaging evidence base yet.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[2]
limitationThe central construct has no objective measure; its estimation is stated to require interpretation of clinical signs.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[3]
limitationThe criteria for brain death are stated to differ between countries, some requiring brainstem death only and others whole-brain death.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[4]
limitationDiagnosis rests on inference from responses observed at the moment of examination, and misdiagnosis of these states is stated to be frequent.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[5]
limitationThe three sources of uncertainty are stated together in one sentence and compound each other: motor responses may be limited or inconsistent, consciousness is not all-or-none, and the assessment is an inference from responses observed at the moment of examination.
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
limitations[6]
Content tags
content-observations: finding · quantity · variable · definition · key-term — grounded in the full text
findingThe metabolic hallmark of the vegetative state is impaired metabolism in the polymodal associative cortices - bilateral prefrontal regions, Broca's area, parieto-temporal and posterior parietal areas, and precuneus.
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content_tags.findings[0]
findingIntense noxious stimulation reached midbrain, contralateral thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex in every one of 15 vegetative patients, so primary sensory cortex remains reachable even when cortical evoked potentials are absent.
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content_tags.findings[1]
findingThe same noxious stimulation failed to activate secondary somatosensory, insular, posterior parietal and anterior cingulate cortices in any vegetative patient, although all of these were activated in every control subject.
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content_tags.findings[2]
findingThe precuneus and adjacent posterior cingulate cortex seem to be the regions that differentiate minimally conscious from vegetative patients.
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content_tags.findings[3]
findingPET showed significantly higher brain metabolic levels in locked-in than in vegetative patients.
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content_tags.findings[4]
findingThe lumped constant used to compute glucose metabolism from FDG-PET is not stable in damaged brains: it falls globally after traumatic brain injury and rises regionally in severe cerebral ischaemia, so absolute metabolic rates in these patients are unreliable.
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content_tags.findings[5]
findingDespite the promise of functional neuroimaging, clinical examination and the nosological categories it establishes remain the standard for diagnosis and prognosis in these patients.
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content_tags.findings[6]
quantity40-50% — overall cortical metabolism of vegetative patients as a proportion of normal values
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content_tags.quantities[0]
quantity30-40% — brain metabolism in permanent vegetative state (12 months after trauma, 3 months after non-traumatic damage) as a proportion of normal values
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content_tags.quantities[1]
quantity28% — lowest reported brain metabolism, measured under propofol anaesthesia, as a proportion of normal values
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content_tags.quantities[2]
quantity40% — cortical cerebral metabolism during deep sleep (stages III-IV) as a proportion of normal values
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content_tags.quantities[3]
quantity75% — cerebral metabolic rate for glucose, as a proportion of normal, in patients who recover from postanoxic coma
Quotation withheld — this paper is not ours to reproduce, and the page has already quoted as much of it as the rights layer allows. The tag, its field and its confidence stand; the sentence is at the publisher.
content_tags.quantities[4]
quantity15 — number of vegetative patients in whom noxious electrical stimulation activated midbrain, thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex
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content_tags.quantities[5]
definitionconsciousness
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content_tags.definitions[0]
definitioncoma
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content_tags.definitions[1]
definitionpersistent vegetative state
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content_tags.definitions[2]
definitionminimally conscious state
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content_tags.definitions[3]
definitionlocked-in syndrome
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content_tags.definitions[4]
definitionhollow skull phenomenon
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content_tags.definitions[5]
Concepts
terms this paper carries, each with the sentence it was cut from — the layer that joins one paper to another. Terms with no quote yet are on CONCEPTS.html.
conceptbrain death
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concepts[0]
conceptminimally conscious state
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concepts[1]
conceptconsciousness
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concepts[2]

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