Upcoming panel on fMRI, vegetative states, and consciousness

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Following the recent publication of a fMRI study demonstrating signs of consciousness in patients previously diagnosed as in a vegetative state (written about by this blog, here), the Stanford Interdisciplinary Group on Neuroscience and Society are holding a panel discussion on fMRI brain imaging, vegetative states, and consciousness. The panel will include experts in law, ethics, medicine, and brain imaging research, and will discuss advances in diagnosing and communicating with patients in minimally conscious states. These experts include neurologist Dr. Christine Wijman, biomedical ethicist Dr. David Magnus, law professor Hank Greely, and an an unnamed neuroscientist.

The panel takes place on March 10 from 5-6 pm, in SLS Room 280B. Dinner will be served.

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Astra Bryant

Astra Bryant is a graduate of the Stanford Neuroscience PhD program in the labs of Drs. Eric Knudsen and John Huguenard. She used in vitro slice electrophysiology to study the cellular and synaptic mechanisms linking cholinergic signaling and gamma oscillations – two processes critical for the control of gaze and attention, which are disrupted in many psychiatric disorders. She is a senior editor and the webmaster of the NeuWrite West Neuroblog