Sentir et percevoir. Du coma à l’éveil de coma

Abstract

The evaluation of comatose patients in coma or of those with a consciousness disorder (unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state) is an important issue in their management. Neuroscientific data show that multiple brain functions (such as sensation, perception, motor imaging, attention) are preserved in some of these patients. Several studies have also shown that the use of personalized stimulation, i.e. that refers to specific autobiographical content, improves the chances to observe behavioral, vegetative, cerebral or cognitive responses in patients in a coma or with a consciousness disorder. Among other significant stimuli, music is a very reliable tool, probably because of its links with multiple brain functions (motor, arousal, emotional, autobiographical, etc.). These results suggest that despite a dysfunction in or lack of consciousness, the memory traces associated with these patients’ life stories, experiences, and preferences can still be mobilized.