Functional Wavelet Connectivity in Resting State Reflects Consciousness Recovery in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract: The number of patients with a long-term unconscious state due to brain injury has increased over recent years. The extent to which their cognitive functions are preserved and the prospects for their recovery are very important to evaluate in order to choose the correct treatment strategy and rehabilitation efforts, especially when a clinical assessment of cognitive functions is problematic. Biopotentials were analyzed in 24 unconscious patients with brain injury. The patients had the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or were in a minimally conscious state. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy was performed in 15 patients. Features of functional wavelet-connectivity were found in a resting state and during listening to naturalistic stimuli (songs) for each considered unconscious state. Interhemispheric and diagonal functional connections in the prefrontal and occipital brain areas were identified as a favorable prognostic sign for further consciousness recovery. © 2021, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.