The Use of Event-Related Potentials for Predicting the Degree of Mental Recovery in Patients with Severe Brain Injury – A Prospective Study

Abstract

Gradual recovery from a prolonged coma through vegetative state and different types of mutism are detected in one-third of patients with a severe brain injury. Event-related potentials (ERPs) could be used as correlates of mental functions. Aims: We focused on the correlation between ERP within first three months after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and the degree of mental recovery one year, and several years later (up to 15 years after sTBI).