Resting electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates—brief, recurring patterns of brain activity—relate to levels of consciousness in brain-damaged patients and healthy individuals. A reduced number of microstate types was associated with altered consciousness, and unawareness corresponded to a lack of diversity in alpha-rhythmic microstates. Delta-, theta-, and slow-alpha-rhythmic microstates were more probable and longer during unawareness, whereas fast-alpha-rhythmic microstates were linked to consciousness. The findings suggest resting EEG can reveal neural correlates of consciousness, with potential implications for clinical care and medical-legal decisions for patients with disorders of consciousness.
Two versions of the ChatGPT large language model (4o and o1) answered 57 open-ended questions about prolonged disorders of consciousness, written as if from a patient's relative. Both models gave predominantly correct answers (80.7-96.8% accuracy). ChatGPT 4o showed greater empathy, while ChatGPT o1 more often recommended consulting a healthcare professional (especially in Italian). English responses were more accurate than Italian only for ChatGPT 4o on clinical data. The findings suggest chatbots could help support caregivers of people with disorders of consciousness, but occasional inaccuracies mean information should be verified with a doctor.