Comatose Man Regains Quality of Life following Electrode Implantation in Brain
From: AHN - 08/02/2007
By: Ayinde O. Chase

A man who lapsed into a coma following a brutal beating and mugging six years
ago, has been reawakened by doctors who never gave up hope.  

With the use of electrodes implanted into his brain neuroscientists were able
to stimulate portions of the brain and thereby greatly improving his quality
of life.  

The man initially did improve to what doctors call a minimally conscious
state following the beating but had very limited movement and awareness. His
parents who were told he'd stay in a persistent vegetative state told doctors
not to resuscitate him if he took a turn for the worst.  

However things changed for the 39-year-old man following his selection for a
new electrode treatment. According to researchers within hours of receiving
what doctors call a pacemaker for the brain, the former comatose victim who
had no awareness opened his eyes and followed the movement of people in his
hospital room.  

Read the entire article at:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008083581

Links:
Brain Electrodes Bring Man Out Of Coma
http://www.nbc10.com/health/13800897/detail.html

'Pacemaker' for brain ends man's coma
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=0fe6456e-758a-4561-ae77-a65c1fa61219

Man woken from virtual coma after six years
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/01/nbrain101.xml

Electrode Implants Awake Man from Coma-like State
http://www.medindia.net/news/Electrode-Implants-Awake-Man-from-Coma-like-State-24435-1.htm

Brain stimulation wakes man in coma
http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=72063&provider=gnews

Electrodes stir man from six-year coma state
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1513