Locked-In Syndrome
Imagine a world in which human communication is executed through the simplicity of thought. No muscle action- no nodding, smiling, slapping, pointing, speaking, or feeling...just through the immobile and inconspicuous medium of thought. This is an example of a locked-in patient. In a locked-in condition, the patient's ability to move his/her limbs, neck, and even muscles is brought to an abrupt halt. Messages ordered by the brain do not reach the muscles that consequently carry out the physical tasks of the brain. The locked-in syndrome leaves the victim completely paralyzed sparing only the eye muscles in most cases.
The reason for this disability is most commonly due to lesions in the nerve centers that control the muscle contractions, or a blood clot that blocks circulation of oxygen to the brain stem. Brain-stem strokes, accidents, extreme spinal-cord injuries, and neurological diseases are other main causes for the syndrome (5). Axons that carry brain signals leave the larger motor areas on the surface of the brain and direct their signals towards the brain stem. It is here where they converge linking one another to form a tightly packed bundle called the motor tract. The brain stem motor tract is extremely sensitive; thus even the slightest impact of a stroke can lead to destruction of the axon bundles resulting in a total paralysis (1). For a locked-in patient, depending on the severity of the stroke, the sensory tracts may or may not be affected. These tracts also form axon bundles and determine the functioning of the feel, touch, and pressure perceptions.
What is interesting is that while total paralysis of the external body is a likely possibility, the eye muscles and brain functionin...
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...o the stability of peace. Today it is about reading peoples' minds for them, what then does tomorrow behold? As long as research is done with the intention of bringing hope and light into a person's life, I continue to admire in awe the achievements in science today.
Sources Cited:
1. 1) National Health Institute Page, excellent for Science and Health information.
http://accessible.ninds.nih.gov/
2. 2) Ian Parker, " Reading Minds": The New Yorker, January 20, 2003.
3. 3) abc home page, good website.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/
4. 4) Cleveland Clinic Websire, vast research material.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web1/www.clevelandclinic.org/health
5. 5) National Institute of Health, one of my favorite websites for the field of healt
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web1/www.nih.gov
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