Transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with high-density EEG in altered states of consciousness
Brain Injury August 1, 2014 Martino Napolitani, Olivier Bodart, Paola Canali et al. 44 citations
Transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with high-density electroencephalography (TMS-hdEEG) offers advantages over other brain imaging techniques for assessing consciousness. A key requirement for consciousness is the brain's capacity to rapidly integrate information across specialized cortical areas. TMS-EEG stimulates any cortical area and records immediate electrical responses, successfully measuring changes in brain complexity under physiological, pharmacological, and pathological conditions. This technique reliably discriminates between conscious and unconscious patients at the single subject level, though further validation as a clinical tool is needed.