Developement of the novel rehabilitation and evaluation method in patients with disorder of consciousness

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19404
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Principal Investigator: Yusaku Takamura 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所 運動機能系障害研究部, 研究員 (20846175)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 遷延性意識障害 / HMD-Eyetracking / EEG脳波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Persistent disorder of consciousness (PDoC) is defined as the absence of reproducible responses to visual, auditory, tactile, and nociceptive stimuli following brain injury. A certain number of patients with DoC recover to the minimally conscious state (MCS), which is defined as the state of being able to respond to stimuli in a reproducible manner. However, it is difficult to unambiguously assess whether patients are in MCS or PVS and to predict recovery. Our research aimed to develop a more valid assessment using a head-mounted display with eye-tracking and electroencephalogram (EEG). Through diachronic analysis, we observed that EEG changes are related to the exploratory area of the eye movement. These results have the potential to improve the accuracy of the assessment and quality of medicine in the future.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

遷延性意識障害、これはいわゆる植物状態ともいえる症状です。意識状態が残っているか否か、また回復するか否かを把握することは困難を極めます。そこで本研究では、視線計測と脳波という客観的指標によって、こうした状態を捉える可能性について模索しました。本研究を通じて将来的には、現在よりも詳細な理解が可能となり、精密なリハビリテーション医療の確立が可能となると考えています。