History
Processing, please wait...
Database
search
in
Filter year from
to
Language
Country
  • Enter your search phrase in the search box.
  • General search:
    • The Boolean operator AND between the terms is assumed by default. If you enter the words European Union in the search box, the system returns all records in which both words occur, regardless of their order.
    • When entering a set of words in quotes, e.g "european union", all records containing the literal term "European Union" will be retrieved.
  • Search by access fields (e.g. author, title, etc.):
    • To direct your search, choose the field in which you want to search the word or expression.
    • Search in the field assumes by default the expression in quotes, e.g. European union will retrieve all records containing the literal term "European Union"
  • To perform more complex searches, additional words or expressions may be added.
  • If you want to refine the search results, you can always access the link "search" in the upper left corner of the page of search results.
  • The search engine is not case sensitive. For example, the word congress has the same meaning that Congress or CONGRESS.
  • To truncate your search expression, use the $ character
  • You can filter the results of your search by a date or date range, filling the appropriate boxes.
Base:
BIAL Foundation
Search:
DE:"Severe brain injury"
Results
1
to
6
from
6
found.
View
Selection Description
Type Title Begin End
DocumentPrevalence of Coma-Recovery Scale-Revised signs of consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state2018

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-28
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Prevalence of Coma-Recovery Scale-Revised signs of consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state
Publication year: 2018
URL:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09602011.2017.1310656
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Different behavioural signs of consciousness can distinguish patients with an unresponsive wakefulness syndrome from patients in minimally conscious state (MCS). The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) is the most sensitive scale to differentiate the different altered states of consciousness and eleven items detect the MCS. The aim of this study is to document the prevalence of these items. We analysed behavioural assessments of 282 patients diagnosed in MCS based on the CRS-R. Results showed that some items are particularly frequent among patients in MCS, namely fixation, visual pursuit, and reproducible movement to command, which were observed in more than 50% of patients. These responses were also the most probably observed items when the patients only showed one sign of consciousness. On the other hand, some items were rarely or never observed alone, e.g., object localisation (reaching), object manipulation, intelligible verbalisation, and object recognition. The results also showed that limiting the CRS-R assessment to the five most frequently observed items (i.e., fixation, visual pursuit, reproducible movement to command, automatic motor response and localisation to noxious stimulation) detected 99% of the patients in MCS. If clinicians have only limited time to assess patients with disorders of consciousness, we suggest to evaluate at least these five items of the CRS-R.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permisison
Language:
eng
Author:
Wannez, S.
Secondary author(s):
Gosseries, O., Azzolini, D., Martial, C., Cassol, H., Aubinet, C., Annen, J., Martens, G., Bodart, O., Heine, L., Charland-Verville, V., Thibaut, A., Chatelle, C., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Demertzi, A., Schnakers, C., Donneau, A.-F., Laureys, S.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Wannez, S., Gosseries, O., Azzolini, D., Martial, C., Cassol, H., Aubinet, C., Annen, J., Martens, G., Bodart, O., Heine, L., Charland-Verville, V., Thibaut, A., Chatelle, C., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Demertzi, A., Schnakers, C., Donneau, A.-F., & Laureys, S. (2018). Prevalence of Coma-Recovery Scale-Revised signs of consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 28(8), 1350-1359. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2017.1310656
2-year Impact Factor: 2.667|2018
Times cited: 54|2025-09-17
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Coma recovery scale-revised / Behavioural assessment / Consciousness / Minimally conscious state / Severe brain injury
DocumentThe development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study2021

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-87
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
The development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study
Publication year: 2021
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background:
After a coma, patients with severe brain injury may present disorders of consciousness (DOC). A substantial proportion of these patients also suffer from severe dysphagia. Assessment of and therapy for swallowing disabilities of patients with DOC are essential because dysphagia has major functional consequences and comorbidities. Dysphagia evaluation in patients with DOC is impeded by the lack of adapted tools. The first aim of this study was to create a new tool, the SWallowing Assessment in Disorders Of Consciousness (SWADOC), and propose a validation protocol. The SWADOC was developed to help therapists assess factors related to swallowing in patients with DOC. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between patients' level of consciousness and SWADOC items and scores.
Method/Design:
In this multicenter prospective cohort, 104 patients with DOC will be tested three times over five consecutive days with the SWADOC. Statistical analyses will focus on the reliability and validity of the SWADOC, especially the intrarater and interrater reliability, internal consistency, measures of dispersion, and concurrent validity with the Facial Oral Tract Therapy Swallowing Assessment of Saliva (FOTT-SAS). The level of consciousness will be assessed with the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs) and the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R).
Discussion:
The assessment of swallowing abilities among patients with DOC is the first necessary step toward the development of a customized dysphagia care plan. A validated scoring tool will be essential for clinicians to better assess dysphagia in patients with DOC and document the evolution of their disorders.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Mélotte, E.
Secondary author(s):
Belorgeot, M., Herr, R., Simon, J., Kaux, J. F., Laureys, S., Sanz, L., Lagier, A., Morsomme, D., Pellas, F., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Mélotte, E., Belorgeot, M., Herr, R., Simon, J., Kaux, J. F., Laureys, S., Sanz, L., Lagier, A., Morsomme, D., Pellas, F., & Gosseries, O. (2021). The development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 662634. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.662634
2-year Impact Factor: 4.003|2020
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2021
Times cited: 11|2025-09-20
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Swallowing / Dysphagia / Consciousness / Severe brain injury / Assessment
DocumentLinks between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review2022

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-103
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review
Publication year: 2022
URL:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00455-022-10452-2
Abstract/Results: This literature review explores a wide range of themes addressing the links between swallowing and consciousness. Signs of consciousness are historically based on the principle of differentiating reflexive from volitional behaviors. We show that the sequencing of the components of swallowing falls on a continuum of voluntary to reflex behaviors and we describe several types of volitional and non-volitional swallowing tasks. The frequency, speed of initiation of the swallowing reflex, efficacy of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing and coordination between respiration and swallowing are influenced by the level of consciousness during non-pathological modifications of consciousness such as sleep and general anesthesia. In patients with severe brain injury, the level of consciousness is associated with several components related to swallowing, such as the possibility of extubation, risk of pneumonia, type of feeding or components directly related to swallowing such as oral or pharyngeal abnormalities. Based on our theoretical and empirical analysis, the efficacy of the oral phase and the ability to receive exclusive oral feeding seem to be the most robust signs of consciousness related to swallowing in patients with disorders of consciousness. Components of the pharyngeal phase (in terms of abilities of saliva management) and evoked cough may be influenced by consciousness, but further studies are necessary to determine if they constitute signs of consciousness as such or only cortically mediated behaviors. This review also highlights the critical lack of tools and techniques to assess and treat dysphagia in patients with disorders of consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Mélotte, E.
Secondary author(s):
Maudaux, A., Panda, R., Kaux, J.-F., Lagier, A., Herr, R., Belorgeot, M., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Mélotte, E., Maudaux, A., Panda, R., Kaux, J.F., Lagier, A., Herr, R., Belorgeot, M, Laureys, S. & Gosseries, O. (2022). Links beteween swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review. Dysphagia, 38(1), 42–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-022-10452-2
2-year Impact Factor: 2.600|2022
Times cited: 11|2025-09-24
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Dysphagia / Swallowing / Severe brain injury / Disorders of consciousness / Consciousness / Coma

Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review

Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review
DocumentBeyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness2023

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-108
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Beyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness
Publication year: 2023
URL:
https://academic.oup.com/cercor/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cercor/bhad031/7091601
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Neurophysiological markers can overcome the limitations of behavioural assessments of Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). EEG alpha power emerged as a promising marker for DoC, although long-standing literature reported alpha power being sustained during anesthetic-induced unconsciousness, and reduced during dreaming and hallucinations. We hypothesized that EEG power suppression caused by severe anoxia could explain this conflict. Accordingly, we split DoC patients (n = 87) in postanoxic and non-postanoxic cohorts. Alpha power was suppressed only in severe postanoxia but failed to discriminate un/consciousness in other aetiologies. Furthermore, it did not generalize to an independent reference dataset (n = 65) of neurotypical, neurological, and anesthesia conditions. We then investigated EEG spatio-spectral gradients, reflecting anteriorization and slowing, as alternative markers. In non-postanoxic DoC, these features, combined in a bivariate model, reliably stratified patients and indexed consciousness, even in unresponsive patients identified as conscious by an independent neural marker (the Perturbational Complexity Index). Crucially, this model optimally generalized to the reference dataset. Overall, alpha power does not index consciousness; rather, its suppression entails diffuse cortical damage, in postanoxic patients. As an alternative, EEG spatio-spectral gradients, reflecting distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, jointly provide a robust, parsimonious, and generalizable marker of consciousness, whose clinical application may guide rehabilitation efforts.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Colombo, M. A.
Secondary author(s):
Comanducci, A., Casarotto, S., Derchi, C. C., Annen, J., Viganò, A., Mazza, A., Trimarchi, P. D., Boly, M., Fecchio, M, Bodart, O., Navarro, J., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O., Massimini, M., Sarasso, S., Rosanova, M.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Colombo, M. A., Comanducci, A., Casarotto, S., Derchi, C. C., Annen, J., Viganò, A., Mazza, A., Trimarchi, P. D., Boly, M., Fecchio, M., Bodart, O., Navarro, J., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O., Massimini, M., Sarasso, S., & Rosanova, M. (2023). Beyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness. Cerebral Cortex, 33(11), 7193-7210. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad031
2-year Impact Factor: 2.9|2023
Times cited: 28|2025-09-26
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: TMS-EEG / Anesthesia / Anterior-posterior gradient / Severe brain injury / Spectral exponent

Beyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness

Beyond alpha power: EEG spatial and spectral gradients robustly stratify disorders of consciousness
DocumentSwallowing assessment in post-comatose patients: A feasibility study on the SWADOC tool2024

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-136
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Swallowing assessment in post-comatose patients: A feasibility study on the SWADOC tool
Publication year: 2024
URL:
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113268
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Background: After a severe brain injury and a coma, patients may develop disorders of consciousness (DoC), frequently accompanied by severe dysphagia. The evaluation and therapy of swallowing are therefore essential aspects of their management. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the SWallowing Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness (SWADOC) tool in the assessment of swallowing in post-comatose patients. Here, we validate its quantitative items, describe preliminary results and identify limitations. Methods: Fourteen post-comatose patients were repeatedly evaluated with the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs) and with the SWADOC. Results: The internal consistency of the oral and pharyngeal subscales of the SWADOC was good. The test-retest reliability showed that all items, all subscores and the total score were stable except for two items (endo-buccal secretions and bronchial congestion). A comparison to the Facial Oral Tract Therapy Swallowing Assessment of Saliva (F.O.T.T-SAS) confirmed that scoring with the SWADOC offers a greater potential for quantitative observations in assessing swallowing abilities among patients with DoC. The SECONDs scores and SWADOC total scores showed a significant positive correlation (tau = 0.78, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides preliminary but encouraging results on the psychometric properties of the SWADOC tool. It shows that this tool is relevant and feasible as a bedside assessment of dysphagia in patients with DoC.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Herr, R.
Secondary author(s):
Regnier, A., Belorgeot, M., Melotte, E., Simon, J., Sanz, L. R. D., Lejeune, N., Chavet, V., Paluszkiewicz, J., Pellas, F., Chevallier, J. B., Laureys, S., Kaux, J. F., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Herr, R., Regnier, A., Belorgeot, M., Melotte, E., Simon, J., Sanz, L. R. D., Lejeune, N., Chavet, V., Paluszkiewicz, J., Pellas, F., Chevallier, J. B., Laureys, S., Kaux, J. F., & Gosseries, O. (2024). Swallowing assessment in post-comatose patients: A feasibility study on the SWADOC tool. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(11), 3268. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113268
2-year Impact Factor: 2.9|2024
Times cited: 3|2025-09-27
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Swallowing / Dysphagia / Consciousness disorders / Severe brain injury / Assessment

Swallowing assessment in post-comatose patients: A feasibility study on the SWADOC tool

Swallowing assessment in post-comatose patients: A feasibility study on the SWADOC tool
DocumentPsilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study2025

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-124
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Psilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study
Publication year: 2025
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2025.02.264
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Objective
With very few treatments available, post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) pose one of the hardest challenges in modern neurology. Following promising clinical trial results in psychiatry, and a deepening understanding of their brain mechanisms, psychedelics have been suggested as a novel therapeutic drug for DoC patients, given that they increase the entropy or complexity of spontaneous activity in healthy participants. However, no attempts have been so far performed in patients with DoC.
Methods
In this case report, we describe the first-ever administration of psilocybin, a classic psychedelic (i.e., agonist at the 5-HT2A receptor), to a patient in a minimally conscious state plus. We report the behavioural effects and changes in neurophysiology measured with EEG.
Results
We report no increase in overt behavioural repertoire with validated scales, yet new spontaneous behaviour not previously seen, and increased brain complexity, as measured by the Lempel-Ziv complexity index, with changes in the underlying periodic rhythms.
Conclusions
This study contributes to future investigations exploring the use of psychedelics in DoC, enriching the discussion surrounding the role of psychedelics in medicine, and the link between brain complexity and consciousness.
Significance
This is the first-ever report of a classic psychedelic used as a treatment for post-comatose DoC.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Cardone, P.
Secondary author(s):
Núñez, P., Alnagger, N. L. N., Martial, C., van der Lande, G. J. M., Sandell, R., Carhart-Harris, R., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Cardone, P., Núñez, P., Alnagger, N. L. N., Martial, C., van der Lande, G. J. M., Sandell, R., Carhart-Harris, R., & Gosseries, O. (2025). Psilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 173, 181–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2025.02.264
2-year Impact Factor: 3.6|2024
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2025
Times cited: 2|2025-09-27
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Psychedelics / Disorders of consciousness / Severe brain injury / Therapy / Brain complexity

Psilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study

Psilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study