Resting-state networks distinguish locked-in from vegetative state patients

Locked-in syndrome and vegetative state are distinct outcomes from coma. Despite their differences, they are clinically difficult to distinguish at the early stage and current diagnostic tools remain insufficient. Since some brain functions are preserved in locked-in syndrome, we postulated that networks of spontaneously co-activated brain areas might be present in locked-in patients, similar to healthy controls, but not in patients in a vegetative state