Monti et al. (2010)

Question 1

What were the aims of the study?

Answer 1

• determine how many patients could modulate fMRI responses willfully
• could patients develop a way to respond to questions using modulation

Question 1

Why did they conduct this study?

Answer 1

Differentiate vegetative state patients from minimally conscious ones better

Question 2

How many patients successfully modulated their brain activity?

Answer 2

5 in total, all of those had gone through traumatic brain injury

Question 2

How many patients were given the task to try and answer questions?

Answer 2

Only one

Question 3

Double dissociation

Answer 3

One manipulation only affects one variable, another manipulation only affects another variable

Question 4

What is the correct interpretation of there not being a correct answer given on the last question?

Answer 4

That there was no activity found in the regions of interest and not that the answer given was incorrect. This could be because the question was not understood or the patient fell asleep

Question 5

Was the patient able to respond using modulation of fMRI before the experiment?

Answer 5

It is unknown as there may have been awareness during previous evaluations but the patient may have just been unable to produce the motor responses necessary to signal consciousness

Question 6

What are two possible interpretations of why all but 5 patients were unable to modulate fMRI changes?

Answer 6

Either the measure accurately found a lack of consciousness in the patients or the measure has low sensitivity
(positive test : true positive)