Imagine lying in coma for six years without being able to chew or swallow, fed by tube and only source of communication is slight movements of his eyes and fingers. Isn’t it devastating? Well a Cleveland patient, who suffered from a brain damage, lied in this condition until the doctors showed their talent on him. Doctors with the help of pioneering surgery inserted electrodes into his thalamus, the region believed to be key in consciousness, to boost its speech and movement signals. The treatment, offers hope to the families of thousands with major head injuries. Experts believed that if this accomplishment is replicated, its success could lead to a whole new era for the treatment of patients in the minimally-conscious state.

However critics point out that the current study is based on a single case and more experience with the approach is needed. This report does not suggest that deep brain stimulation cures minimally conscious state.
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