Scientists have successfully awoken coma patients so they can communicate with their family

A 'coma’ is sometimes used in a general way to cover a wider range of conditions in which the individual has suffered brain trauma, leaving them with no consciousness at all or with very limited consciousness. 

We read about celebrities, sports personalities or politicians said to be in a ‘coma’ after months or years, but they are probably in a vegetative or minimally conscious state. It’s very unusual for a coma to last more than a few weeks at most. People in a coma are completely unresponsive. They do not move, do not react to light or sound, and cannot feel pain. Their eyes are closed.

See: Doctor does something inappropriate to sleeping patient

In a vegetative state the person is still unconscious. They have no awareness of themselves or their environment. The main difference between ‘coma’ and the ‘vegetative state’ is that at some point the person’s eyes will be open and there will be times when they seem to be ‘awake’. They may move parts of their body, but this movement is not voluntary.

So now - some incredible news...

Scientists have successfully awoken coma patients so they can communicate with their family.

By 'zapping' their brain with a low-intensity current, two people in a vegetative state and another 13 in a minimally conscious coma showed signs of awareness after receiving the brain stimulation.

The effect lasted for up to a week and this could be a huge step for families of people in a coma who show signs of awareness but cannot speak or move their muscles.