Interesting Research
Consciousness and the fallacy of misplaced objectivity
By Francesco Ellia, Jeremiah Hendren, Matteo Grasso, Csaba Kozma, Garrett Mindt, Jonathan P.Lang, Andrew M. Huan, Larissa Albantakis, Melanie Boly, and Giulio Tononi
For those interested in the science of consciousness - this paper to me is the seminal argument (though it has been made other times through different methods) for introducing a valid avenue of phenomenological study into neuroscience research. Essentially this essay states that there can be objective study of subjective experience without having to rely on functional correlates of consciousness, and it provides a methodology to do so.
Cognitive Motor Dissociations in Disorders of Consciousness
Yelena G. Bodien, Ph.D. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4858-2903, Judith Allanson, F.R.C.P., Ph.D., Paolo Cardone, M.S. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8537-2123, Arthur Bonhomme, M.D., Jerina Carmona, M.P.H., Camille Chatelle, Ph.D., Srivas Chennu, Ph.D., +31, and Nicholas D. Schiff, M.D
This one has been making the rounds in pop science and general media since it came out. It is certainly shocking and to those who are unaffiliated with the idea of latent consciousness in vegetative/minimally conscious states, it may be frightening. This is the perfect continuation of the initial experiements done by Schiff, which were critiquef for having too small a sample size as well as a debatable diagnosis of their primary patient of being either MCS or VS. This new study certainly quiets any doubts. However I am not incredibly blown away by their control (MCS) figures. There is certainly a statistically significant difference but the difference between MCS, and VS patients in their ability to “answer” questions with fMRI does not impress me that much still. Very interesting and exciting and would be eager to see more done on this.