Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39812850›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Parallel EEG-fNIRS assessments of covert cognition in behaviorally non-responsive ICU patients: A multi-task feasibility study in a case of acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy.

G Laforge, M Kolisnyk, S Novi, K Kazazian, M Ardakani, A Abdalmalak, D Debicki, T Gofton, A M Owen, L Norton

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Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

G LaforgeDepartment of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. geoff.laforge@hsc.utah.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4892-9962
M KolisnykWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
S NoviWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
K KazazianWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
M ArdakaniWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
A AbdalmalakWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
D DebickiWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
T GoftonWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
A M OwenWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
L NortonWestern Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.

Funding

CIHR 408004Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada RGPIN-2018-05878Wellcome Trust 215063
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRepeat neurological assessment is standard in cases of severe acute brain injury. However, conventional measures rely on overt behavior. Unfortunately, behavioral responses may be difficult or impossible for some patients. As a result, patients who recover consciousness before the ability to express so may go undetected. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of incorporating functional neuroimaging into clinical assessment protocols. The objective of the current study is to assess the feasibility of a multi-task, multimodal bedside technique to evaluate sensory and cognitive function in behaviorally non-responsive patients.

methodsWe deployed a novel assessment paradigm to evaluate sensory and cognitive processing in one 63-year-old unresponsive patient with acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). We collected parallel bedside EEG-fNIRS activity during hierarchical auditory processing, movie listening, and motor imagery.

resultsWe found appropriate hemodynamic activation in the patient's middle and superior temporal gyri to simple sounds and activation in their superior temporal gyrus, left angular and precentral gyri during speech. During movie listening, the patient produced patterns of EEG and fNIRS activity that were statistically indistinguishable from healthy controls. The patient also showed appropriate fNIRS and source-localized EEG activation of motor areas during motor imagery. Upon recovering, the patient correctly recalled multiple aspects of our assessment procedures.

conclusionIn sum, our assessment protocol effectively captures neural markers of sensory and cognitive function in behaviorally non-responsive patients. Crucially, while AMSAN is distinct from brain injury, the patient's assumed dissociation between behavior and awareness provided an ideal test case to validate our protocol.

Indexed as

CognitionElectroencephalographyFunctional NeuroimagingFeasibility StudiesHumansIntensive Care UnitsMiddle AgedSpectroscopy, Near-InfraredAMSANComaEEGFNIRSNeural assessment

Identifiers

PMID39812850

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.