Brain Scan of Sharon Shows Response to Stimuli

[Faygo Kid]

Source: New York Times

JERUSALEM — A brain scan performed on Ariel Sharon, the former Israeli prime minister who had a devastating stroke seven years ago and is presumed to be in a vegetative state, revealed significant brain activity in response to external stimuli, raising the chances that he is able to hear and understand, a scientist involved in the test said Sunday.

Scientists showed Mr. Sharon, 84, pictures of his family, had him listen to a recording of the voice of one of his sons and used tactile stimulation to assess the extent of his brain’s response.

“We were surprised that there was activity in the proper parts of the brain,” said Prof. Alon Friedman, a neuroscientist at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a member of the team that carried out the test. “It raises the chances that he hears and understands, but we cannot be sure. The test did not prove that.”

The activity in specific regions of the brain indicated appropriate processing of the stimulations, according to a statement from Ben-Gurion University, but additional tests to assess Mr. Sharon’s level of consciousness were less conclusive. . .

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/world/middleeast/ariel-sharon-brain-scan-shows-response-to-stimuli.html?_r=0

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Interesting, and bizarre. He had his stroke and has been in a vegetative state for over seven years. Not a condition I would wish on anyone, particularly if he is indeed cognizant of his fate. Mom had a series of strokes in 1997 and faded until 2003. Not a good way to go.

[The Second Stone]

1. I've always wondered how much weight he has lost

as a matter of curiosity.

[LeftishBrit]

2. For his own sake, I hope he is not aware.

My mother has prepared an advanced directive that would prevent her being kept alive long-term in such a state. I should prepare one too.

[azurnoir]

3. He has been in this state for going on 7 years now

that seems inhuman really it does

[randome]

7. Unless he has a really good imagination.

No one knows what goes on in the brain as it nears death. It may be that consciousness, with nowhere to go, 'entertains' itself much like the experience in a sensory deprivation chamber.

[msanthrope]

4. Terry Schiavo could track a balloon with her eyes, according to some.

That apparently showed....something.

When her autopsy proved she was blind, dumb, and without upper brain function, those clinging to delusion refused to give.

[Warpy]

5. If you watched the video carefully

what you saw were very random eye movements that her dad was trying to track with a balloon.

That film fooled no nurse I know.

I don't fault her parents for having that much false hope. I do fault them for trying to prevent her husband from letting her go.

[Tien1985]

6. After that whole debacle

I took advantage of an employer's prepaid legal and got an advanced directive. I'm only 27 now, but I'm happy to have that out of the way.

[Ken Burch]

10. That, and I blame the crazies who threatened her husband with death

for accepting that she had no chance of recovery.

And the "pro-life" political and religious crazies around the Schiavos who egged them on to see this as some sort of fight that had to be won, rather than a personal tragedy that had to be dealt with, and who refused to do anything to help the Schiavos accept their daughter's death. Shame on all of those who used the Schiavos in that despicable manner, who took advantage of and horribly manipulated those desperate parents into believing that hope existed when they knew it didn't.

[JI7]

8. let him die, he is going to be 85 soon

do they think he will suddenly wake up ?

[Ken Burch]

11. And would it be any kindness to him to have him wake up

and discover, among other things, that the political party he founded no longer exists and that the chances for peace are slimmer than ever?

Hearing those things would probably kill the man on the spot.

They should just let him go.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Wow! That's pretty remarkable news!

I often wonder about him, since I had the LBN thread when he lapsed into a coma, hard to realize that it's been so long. Thanks for posting this!

[Nye Bevan]

12. A fate worse than death. I need to make a living will (nt)

[Purveyor]

13. Karma. Ariel Sharon is worthy of no ones sympathy. eom

[Ashgrey77]

14. +1 n/t