Vegetative Patients Can Still Learn 159
enigma48 writes to mention that a collaborative study between the Universities of Buenos Aires and Cambridge have demonstrated that individuals in a vegetative state can still learn and demonstrate at least a partial consciousness. Their findings are reported in a recent online edition of Nature Neuroscience. "It is the first time that scientists have tested whether patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states can learn. By establishing that they can, it is believed that this simple test will enable practitioners to assess the patient's consciousness without the need of imaging. The abstract is also available in the advance issue of Nature."
It has to be said (Score:4, Funny)
I learned alot from Veggie Tales. Correlation?
I have known this for a long time (Score:2, Funny)
I have been in many a long lecture that has put me in a vegetative state.
I managed to graduate, so I must have leaned something.
Re:It has to be said (Score:5, Funny)
So there is hope... (Score:3, Funny)
for the editors of /.
Prepare for the zombie onslaught! (Score:4, Funny)
We've had stories of Zombie Salmon [slashdot.org], rats that walk despite broken spines [slashdot.org] and now we're told that those with no brain activity can learn?!?
Granted, that could be both politicians and zombies, but I'm preparing for the worst: Zombie Politicians. Don't believe me? This one was just a prototype! [wikipedia.org]. They're amongst us, they cannot think, they cannot be stopped, they're learning AND THEY'RE RUNNING THE COUNTRY!
The lunatics were right! We ARE losing the country. Zombie Jesus save us all!
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:5, Funny)
It breaks my heart just thinking about being in that situation. To love someone so much and for you to find out that they can't love you back... and what you thought were the most special moments of your life were all a lie.
Isn't that a country music song?
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:5, Funny)
To love someone so much and for you to find out that they can't love you back... and what you thought were the most special moments of your life were all a lie.
Lesson learned: never take a RealDoll to the prom.
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:4, Funny)
... and what you thought were the most special moments of your life were all a lie.
Thanks... and I was having such a great Monday too...
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:5, Funny)
It breaks my heart just thinking about being in that situation. To love someone so much and for you to find out that they can't love you back... and what you thought were the most special moments of your life were all a lie.</blockquote>
Never been married before have you?
What about the non-vegetables... (Score:4, Funny)
That doesn't solve our biggest problem. What do we do with all the none vegetative people who cannot learn? You know... those people who think "intellegent design" is biology, and can drive a car, own a gun, and vote.
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:5, Funny)
No, the pickup still works and the dog didn't die.
Mandatory lawyer joke (Score:5, Funny)
An attorney, cross-examining the local coroner, queried, "Before you signed the death certificate had you taken the man's pulse?"
"No," the coroner replied.
"Well, then, did you listen for a heart beat?"
The coroner answered, "No."
"Did you check for respiration? Breathing?", asked the attorney.
Again the coroner replied, "No."
"Ah," the attorney said, "So when you signed the death certificate you had not taken any steps to make sure the man was dead, had you?"
The coroner rolled his eyes, and shot back "Counselor, at the time I signed the death certificate the man's brain was sitting in a jar on my desk. But I can see your point. For all I know he could be out there practicing law somewhere."
control group.. (Score:4, Funny)
What did they use for the control group in the study? Dead fish heads? C-level executives? Former presidents?
Re:Frist (Score:0, Funny)
Obligatory "Frist Post", eh?
Re:fMRI Strikes Again (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Frist (Score:1, Funny)
Whut? A Frist post that's not a frist psot?
My brain asplode.
Any Hope? (Score:3, Funny)
Does this imply that high school kids might learn?