Awake or Knocked Out? The Line Gets Blurrier

Taylor  Current Event Posting #3
Health
Awake or Knocked Out? The Line Gets Blurrier by James Gorman
NY Times 04/12/12
800 words


Scientists are still trying to figure out how the brain drifts in and out of consciousness and what is functioning in the brain during those times. Researches have used anesthesia in brain scans to see what happens in the brain when people fade in and out of consciousness. Researchers Harry Scheinin, Dr. Alkire, and Jaakko W. Langsjo of the University of Turku in Finland have found that the brainstem and other less mature parts of the brain are the first ones to become active. The more complicated parts, such as the neocortex wake up later. There has also been another study led by Adrian M. Owen of Cambridge University that stated that though a patient is unconscious doesn't necessarily mean they aren't unresponsive. “Patients under general anesthesia can sometimes carry on a conversation using hand signals, but postoperatively, they deny ever being awake. Thus, retrospective oblivion is no proof of unconsciousness.” says Dr. Alkire of the University of Turku.
In conclusion, the medical field still has a lot of researching to do in the subject. Experiments with anesthesia and other drugs of the sort will be taking place. There is not a clear line between the conscious and unconscious and questions on the level consciousness still remain.