Injury patterns associated with cognitive motor dissociation.

In unconscious appearing patients with acute brain injury, wilful brain activation to motor commands without behavioural signs of command following, known as cognitive motor dissociation (CMD), is associated with functional recovery. CMD can be detected by applying machine learning to EEG recorded during motor command presentation in behaviourally unresponsive patients. Identifying patients with CMD carries clinical implications for patient interactions, communication with families, and guidance of therapeutic decisions but underlying mechanisms of CMD remain unknown.

Cognitive-motor dissociation and time to functional recovery in patients with acute brain injury in the USA: a prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Recovery trajectories of clinically unresponsive patients with acute brain injury are largely uncertain. Brain activation in the absence of a behavioural response to spoken motor commands can be detected by EEG, also known as cognitive-motor dissociation. We aimed to explore the role of cognitive-motor dissociation in predicting time to recovery in patients with acute brain injury.

Development of a brain-computer interface for patients in the critical care setting.

Objective: Behaviorally unresponsive patients in intensive care units (ICU) are unable to consistently and effectively communicate their most fundamental physical needs. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology has been established in the clinical context, but faces challenges in the critical care environment. Contrary to cue-based BCIs, which allow activation only during pre-determined periods of time, self-paced BCI systems empower patients to interact with others at any time.