Fresh Eye on the Radio: Communicating with the near-dead

Posted at 4:47 PM on February 3, 2010 by Bob Collins (5 Comments)
Filed under: Fresh Eye on the Radio (with Mary Lucia), Science

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and in Belgium have developed a new brain scanning method that allows them to communicate with people in a vegetative state. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that scans can detect signs of awareness in patients thought to be closed off from the world.

It tops today's discussion with The Current's Mary Lucia. But, of course, it never stops there.

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Comments (5)

It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.

Posted by Mac Wilson | February 3, 2010 5:32 PM

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Mostly dead = near dead

Posted by Bob Collins | February 4, 2010 5:48 AM

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Sorry Bob, you missed it.

He's Only Mostly Dead- Princess Bride, courtesy of YouTube

Posted by JohnnyZoom | February 4, 2010 9:20 AM

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All levity aside (Rob Reiner is a comic genius BTW), it's about time someone has used modern neuroimaging techniques in cases like this. How many times has the plug been prematurely pulled?

Posted by JohnnyZoom | February 4, 2010 9:22 AM

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Ah, you cool kids with your popular culture. (g)

Posted by Bob Collins | February 4, 2010 10:01 AM

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