INTRODUCTION: Disorders of consciousness (DOC) include coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state, and the recently added covert awareness. They result from acquired brain injuries such as trauma, anoxia, or stroke. Despite scientific advances, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying DOC remain insufficiently understood, limiting diagnostic accuracy and prognostic capabilities.

AIM(S): This study aims to identify key neurophysiological and physiological patterns associated with DOC, taking into account etiological and other pathogenic factors.

METHOD(S): Retrospective data from ICU patients with acute DOC will be analyzed. This includes demographics, clinical scale scores, pupillary reflexes, CT scan descriptions, and blood markers (e.g., NSE, TSH, fT3, fT4, cortisol). EEG signals (resting-state and photic stimulation) will be analyzed for spectral properties and measures of neural criticality.

RESULTS: The study is in progress. Based on our previous results, we hypothesize that patients with more favorable diagnoses will show EEG spectral profiles with more pronounced theta and alpha oscillations, an antero-posterior gradient, and less pronounced 1/f activity in the spectrogram. We expect to identify clear differences in markers related to the dominant pathogenic mechanisms – namely anoxic or traumatic injury.

CONCLUSIONS: Identified neurophysiological and clinical biomarkers may contribute to a better understanding of the brain dynamics underlying disorders of consciousness, as well as support earlier and more accurate prognosis, enhancing care and outcomes in this vulnerable patient group.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: This project was funded by the Priority Research Area FutureSoc and qLife under the program “Excellence Initiative – Research University” at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.