Figure 2.

Multivariate prediction of consciousness based on EEG markers. (A) Relationship between auditory startle reflex (ASR) habituation and the multivariate prediction of consciousness based on EEG markers. Predicted probability of being classified minimally conscious (MCS) was higher in extinguishable patients (EX) than in inextinguishable patients (IN), regardless of the clinical state of consciousness [vegetative (VS/UWS) or MCS] with a main effect of ASR habituation using a 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA), F(1,81) = 19.6, P ≤ 1 × 10⁻⁴. Post hoc testing revealed that EX patients had a significantly higher probability than IN patients in both VS and MCS populations (P < 0.05, uncorrected). (B) Scalp topographies of some univariate markers [raw theta (θ) and alpha (α) power spectral densities and weighted symbolic mutual information in the theta band (wSMI θ)] showed a significant difference between the two groups, P_cl = 0.0150, P_cl = 0.0235 and P_cl = 0.0077, respectively. A cluster-based approach was used for the statistical comparison, with the main effect of ASR response (independent of the state of consciousness) in an ANOVA as a first step statistic followed by a 10 000 permutations spatial clustering procedure. Channels included in the significant cluster are highlighted by white circles. (C) wSMI θ connectivity differences between ASR-EX and ASR-IN. Only pairs of electrodes exhibiting a significant main effect of the ASR habituation are represented (P < 0.005, uncorrected). P_cl = cluster P-value. *P < 0.05.