A fascinating development.

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**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8497148.stm

To me, this is equally intiguing and terrifying. Intriguing, as it is showing even more of the mysteries of the human brain, and terrifying that the poor souls shut in their bodies could be aware of their surroundings, and no doubt bored beyond belief. How can your sanity survive such things?

**Albatross**

I think I'd still want to be put down if I was in that state. I imagine it would be quite claustrophobic.

**agnosto**

God no, I just added being in such a state to my list of, "If this happens, pull the plug" instances.

**Wrexasaur**

I doubt the accuracy of this technology.

There is a substantial possibility that a patient could respond not on purpose, but by default. You ask them a question they know the answer to, and their brain 'answers it for them', automatically. In essence, it could be argued that it is not really the person responding, but the natural functions that can be expected from a living brain.

It would suck to be in a vegetative state, and I am by no means in favor of 'torturing' individuals that are aware of their circumstances.

Complicated subject, article grazes the surface of it.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Which is why they use such abstract terms for yes and no. It's in the early days I think, but still, it's good to know they are working on it. Can't be a massive leap from here to be able to communicate in some manner, which would give some succor should I end up in such a state.

**JEB_Stuart**

Time for an avatar program eh?

**agnosto**

It makes me wonder if you're still able to dream.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Entirely possible, given a few years. Hell, we might even wind up being able to mentally remote control Robotic Bodies. That'd be cool.

**agnosto**

I'll sign up to be in a dreadnought.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Good point there!

We (well, Boffins) are already underway with mapping the brain and how it controls the body. Last I heard, they had a simple 'Pong' like game which is controlled purely through thought. They recorded the impulses from a Chimps Brain as it manually guided the Joystick. This done, they then disconnected the Joystick (but still left it there for the Chimp) and swapped controls purely to the Brain Waves. It worked.

Thus, could someone in a Vegatitive State be given similar control to an Exo-Skeleton? I suppose it depends exactly how the Brain has been damaged, but surely it's a possibility. Freaky stuff!

**Lord-Loss**

First step helping vegetable patients. Second Step Avatar Programe

**Orkeosaurus**

That's just cruel. Being in a vegetative state is boring enough without you trying to get them to watch Avatar.

**agnosto**

Now that was comedy.