Science: it isn't all facts

[Dominatus]

My mother has had multiple sclerosis for the last 13-14 years, mentally and physically incapacitated. She recognizes my sister and myself most of the time, but can't communicate her thoughts very well if at all, and we want to know if she is aware of what's going on around her. If she can actually retain anything, if she is stuck in her own head and aware of what's going on... Is there any way to detect that through brain activity or neural responses? This is more for curiosity than anything. Thank you.

[PakledHostage]

I recall reading an article related to this topic in Macleans magazine a few years ago. It isn't a scientific article but it might give you a foot in the door to further research.

[Dominatus]

Thank you. That article is rather interesting... We ask her to move her right foot when my grandfather attempts to walk her to a chair, and after several requests, prodding, tapping the foot she is able to shift or move it slightly. It shows she is able to process certain things on a moment-by-moment basis. But is there some way to see if she understands what is going on around her? If you ask her a question and give her option A or option B, she will choose option B. Ask her again, option B or option A, she will choose option A, the last thing you had said. Whether this is simply her inability to properly verbalize things or an actual absence of cognitive understanding between the choices, well, I don't know.

[Camacha]

I think that some useful steps were made in research in this area the last couple of years, though that focussed more on coma patients. Apparently they have a lot more tools to differentiate between vegetative patients and people that are just not able to communicate, among which scanning equipment (MRI or another variety). Apparently some patients are even able to answer simple questions through purposefully triggering certain brain responses, though that is a bit controversial.

I am not sure I can tell you more useful information about that as I only read about it a while ago, but maybe it is a starting point to find someone that can help you.

Did you talk to the doctors?

Edit: just read the link PakledHostage posted. Though I think it is a different researcher, it is the same type of research.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Camacha

[LordFerret]

... inability to properly verbalize things or an actual absence of cognitive understanding between the choices, well, I don't know.

You should have this person seen by a qualified neurologist. They can determine cognitive level. I am the primary caregiver for one of my parents, advanced dementia, rated a 3 on a cognitive scale (0 to 30). It's very similar to managing a 1-year old.

[Dominatus]

Thank you, we will see if her parents will do that.

[lajoswinkler]

There is a way to detect such activity and it's routine procedure when assessment of brain death is needed, but any decyphering is not possible at this level of technology. I always approach as the person is fully aware. Sometimes only the speech synthesis is affected.

[Pds314]

What has the title got to do with the post? When I saw the title, I was thinking that it was gonna be an argument over whether evolution and abiogenesis occurred.

[Camacha]

What has the title got to do with the post? When I saw the title, I was thinking that it was gonna be an argument over whether evolution and abiogenesis occurred.

I interpreted it as that the practical implications of such an illness are more than just facts and diagnoses. While science deals with it from a factual point of view, for patient and family much more is going on.

Of course, I can only speak for myself.