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Hyperactive external awareness against hypoactive internal awareness in disorders of consciousness using resting‐state functional MRI: highlighting the involvement of visuo‐motor modulation
Author(s) -
He JiangHong,
Yang Yi,
Zhang Yi,
Qiu SiYou,
Zhou ZhenYu,
Dang YuanYuan,
Dai YiWu,
Liu YiJun,
Xu RuXiang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.3130
Subject(s) - resting state fmri , insula , consciousness , supplementary motor area , brain activity and meditation , psychology , level of consciousness , neuroscience , persistent vegetative state , audiology , balance (ability) , functional magnetic resonance imaging , consciousness disorders , minimally conscious state , medicine , electroencephalography , developmental psychology
Resting‐state functional MRI (fMRI) has emerged as a valuable tool to characterize the complex states encompassing disorders of consciousness (DOC). Awareness appears to comprise two coexistent, anticorrelated components named the external and internal awareness networks. The present study hypothesizes that DOC interrupts the balance between the internal and external awareness networks. To gain more understanding of this phenomenon, the present study analyzed resting‐state fMRI data from 12 patients with DOC versus 12 healthy age‐matched controls. The data were explored using independent component analysis and amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis. The results indicated that DOC deactivated midline areas associated with internal awareness. In addition, external awareness was strengthened in DOC because of increased activation in the insula, lingual gyrus, paracentral and supplementary motor area. The activity patterns suggested strengthened external awareness against weakened internal awareness in DOC. In particular, increased activity found in the insula, lingual gyrus, paracentral and supplementary motor area of patients with DOC implied possible involvement of augmented visuo‐motor modulation in these patients. DOC is probably related to hyperactive external awareness opposing hypoactive internal awareness. This unique pattern of brain activity may potentially be a prognostic marker for DOC. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.