Circadian rhythms in the vegetative state.

BEKINSCHTEIN, TA; GOLOMBEK, DA; COLEMAN, V; MANES, F

BRAIN INJURY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Año: 2009 vol. 23 p. 915 - 919

0269-9052

Objective:  To evaluate whether vegetative state patients maintain circadian rhythms. Research Design: An observational study of five single cases. Methods and procedures: Five chronic vegetative state patients underwent clinical and neurological evaluations and two-week continuous temperature measurements. Main outcomes and results: The two patients with traumatic brain injury showed well-formed circadian temperature rhythms and had more reflexive behaviours, and relatively low cortical and subcortical atrophy, whereas the three patients from anoxic-hypoxic origin demonstrated no cycles or rhythmic behaviour. Conclusions: The presence of periods of wakefulness does not imply preserved sleep-wake cycling capacity, nor preserved circadian rhythms, and it should not be taken as a distinguishing feature for the definition of the vegetative state.