Tag: persistent vegetative state

PET Scans Predict Coma Outcome

A new study shows that 42 really is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. OK, not really, but it does show that 42% of healthy brain activity is the minimum threshold for consciousness. Disorders of consciousness, also referred to as coma when severe enough, can be a difficult situation to assess sufficiently to make reliable predictions about outcome. Part of...

/ June 1, 2016

Rom Houben: Not communicating through facilitated communication

Rob Houben, injured by a car crash over two decades ago, was claimed to be conscious but paralyzed rather than in a persistent vegetative state, and the discredited pseudoscience of facilitated communication was claimed to give him a voice. To the lack of surprise of skeptics everywhere, these claims were not true.

/ February 20, 2010

Man in Coma 23 Years – Is He Really Conscious?

Belgian citizen Rob Houben has been noncommunicative for 23 years. Has he suddenly gained the ability to communicate?

/ November 25, 2009