Neurocognitive awareness measured by MEG/EEG: Clinical tools development.

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Neurocognitive awareness measured by MEG/EEG: Clinical tools development. Ryan D'Arcy1*, Careesa Liu2, Sujoy G. Hajra2, Lauren Sculthorpe2, Donald Weaver3 and Gerhard Stroink4 1 National Research Council, Canada 2 Institute for Biodiagnostics, National Reseach Council, Canada 3 Dalhousie University, Department of Neurology, Canada 4 Dalhousie University, Department of Physics, Canada A common consequence of brain damage is altered level of awareness. Current clinical tests of awareness rely on behavioural indicators, which are frequently compromised and often decoupled from awareness. Misdiagnosis rates as high as 43% have been reported for patients with disorders of consciousness. A recent study found a 41% misdiagnosis rate when using a clinical consensus based diagnosis and also concluded that significant progress has not been made in this sensitive area in the last 15 years despite the need for diagnostic accuracy [1]. MEG/EEG can be used to circumvent the limitations of behavioural measures, in order to provide an objective physiological index of awareness. We have utilized the temporal information in sensory, perceptual, and cognitive components to develop assessment methods. These assessment methods can provide reliable, systematic, objective and standardized results using a combination of top-down knowledge based and bottom-up data driven computer aided diagnosis, which helps mitigate the factors (such as differential definitions, expertise of assessor etc. [2] that result in misdiagnosis. In addition, preliminary investigations have begun into whether spatial source analyses can contribute unique insight into affected brain regions during altered levels of awareness. The goal of this research is to develop a clinical MEG/EEG tool that can be used in both the diagnosis and prognosis of brain damaged patients (e.g., persistent vegetative state).