Patric Hernandez

E-mail: pjhernandez@wisc.edu

Research Project:

Application of fMRI techniques with acute comatose state patients in order to:

          1. Obtain maps of basic functions for somatosensory, auditory, language, and vision in coma patients. Hypothesis: Assessing fMRI responses of neurological sensory and language function will correlate with the depth and quality of coma in traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest patients

          2. Develop fMRI maps that would indicate conscious awareness in coma patients. Hypothesis: fMRI analysis of neurological responses to self-awareness paradigms will provide a means of assessing higher-order cortical activations indicative of awareness

          3. Correlate fMRI results with patient recovery. Hypothesis: Positive fMRI mappings of sensory, language, and higher-order cortical activations in coma patients will correlate with preservation and/or recovery of function