Bifocal extradural corticalstimulation-induced recovery of consciousness in the permanent post-traumaticvegetative state

The permanent vegetative state (PVS), i.e. a vegetative state lasting more than 1 year following traumatic brain injury, is considered irreversible. Here we show for the first time that bifocal extradural electrical cortical stimulation reversed PVS in a single patient, who became minimally conscious. Her default mode network and diffusion tensor imaging pattern as assessed by MRI changed substantially. This case shows that the permanent vegetative state can be reversed and opens the study to possible combined transplantation-stimulation studies in these patients.