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. 1976 Apr;39(4):392–402. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.39.4.392

Patterns of arousal in comatose patients.

B M Evans
PMCID: PMC492291  PMID: 932756

Abstract

The EEG changes, with associated cardiorespiratory phenomena and, where possible, postmortem findings, are described in six patients in coma, with some reference to other similar cases. Spontaneously occurring periodic changes were observed at varying intervals between 20 s and 4 min but most commonly at 1/2-2 min. These involved simultaneous cardiorespiratory, EEG, and somatic motor phenomena related to changes in the level of arousal. It is suggested that a physiological periodicity of the arousal mechanisms exists which may be of importance in the understanding of the pathophysiology of comatose states.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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