Story immersion in a coma for a long term and successful exit from it is more like the plot of a movie or a Latin American soap Opera. However, the history knows not a few of such cases. For example, as reported in the journal Current Biology, recently, scientists from the Institute of cognitive Sciences in Lyon, located in France, was brought out of coma the person had lain in it for 15 years!
The reasons for the immersion of a person in coma great multitude that heart attacks, strokes, traumatic brain injury, diseases of the Central nervous system and even a strong emotional shocks. But regardless of the reason, this condition is considered the “brain death”. In a coma the brain activity decreases dramatically, but the internal organs continue to perform its function. In other words, the body continues to live, and the brain is almost dying. Scientists believe that the more a person is in a coma, the less chance for a positive outcome. Despite all efforts, is still not fully understood mechanisms comatose state and not developed methods of rescuing people in coma. There are several theories and experimental methods of treatment, one of which was used by French scientists led by Dr. Angela Seguro.
The doctors worked with the patient in a clinic in Lyon, who was in a car accident at the age of 20 years and has been in a coma for 15 years. This man can not get out of the coma, as he has a damaged particular areas in the brain, connecting the lower parts that control vital functions, with the cortex and other parts of the nervous system responsible for consciousness and higher nervous activity. All these areas are linked one of the cranial nerves, namely the vagus nerve. This nerve and decided to use as a “guide” in order to stimulate separate parts of the nervous system.
Scientists have developed a special pacemaker that is connected to the nerve and sending signals of different power and frequency after a certain period of time. As a result, the theory of nerve stimulation exceeded all expectations: the patient came out of the coma and began to respond to the words and actions of others, to obey simple commands and actions. He re-acquired the skill to follow things with eyes have learned to move my neck. Besides, the man began to react to sudden movements and to show other reactions that are not typical for people in a coma. On the electroencephalogram of the patient appeared theta rhythms, indicating the presence of consciousness, and the number of active connections between different brain areas significantly increased.
“Stimulating the vagus nerve, we were able to show that we can improve the patient’s condition and bring him back to “our world” when all seems lost. The brain retains the ability to form new connections and repair itself, even in such a critical situation”.
Based on materials of RIA “news”
The patient was released from a 15-year coma thanks to the efforts of scientists
Vladimir Kuznetsov