Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensory Stimulation Program

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Coma and Disorders of Consciousness

Abstract

Taking care of patients recovering from coma is not easy, as current therapeutics are neither well developed nor well validated. Sensory stimulation programs are the most widely known treatment applied to severely brain-injured patients. In this chapter, we will introduce the theoretical principles underlying these programs and the studies assessing their clinical interest. We will also discuss the limitations of this treatment and consider future directions for clinical research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Wood R. Critical analysis of the concept of sensory stimulation for patients in vegetative states. Brain Inj. 1991;5(4):401–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hummel F, Cohen L. Drivers of brain plasticity. Curr Opin Neurol. 2005;18(6):667–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Voss H, Uluc A, Dyke J, et al. Possible axonal regrowth in late recovery from the minimally conscious state. J Clin Invest. 2006;116(7):2005–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jones R, Hux K, Morton-Anderson K, Knepper L. Auditory stimulation effect on a comatose survivor of traumatic brain injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1994;75(2):164–71.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ansell B, Keenan J. The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile: a tool for assessing slow-to-recover head-injured patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1989;70:104–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Merabet L, Pascual-Leone A. Neural reorganization following sensory loss: the opportunity of change. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2010;11(1):44–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Barnes S, Finnerty G. Sensory experience and cortical rewiring. Neuroscientist. 2010;16(2):186–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Diamond M. Enriching heredity. New York: The Free Press; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Renner M, Rosenzweig M. Enriched and improverished environments: effects on brain and behaviour. New York: Springer; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nithianantharajah J, Hannan J. Enriched environments, experience-dependent plasticity and disorders of the nervous system. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006;7(9):697–709.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sale A, Berardi N, Maffei L. Enrich the environment to empower the brain. Trends Neurosci. 2009;32(4):233–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. LeWinn E, Dimancescu M. Environmental deprivation and enrichment in coma. Lancet. 1978;2:156–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Blackerly WF. Intensity of rehabilitation and length of stay. Brain Inj. 1990;4(2):167–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Doman G, Wilkinson R, Dimancescu M, Pelligra R. The effects of intense multi-sensory stimulation on coma arousal and recovery. Neuropsych Rehabil. 1993;3(2):203–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hall M, MacDonald S, Young G. The effectiveness of directed multisensory stimulation versus non directed stimulation in comatose closed head injured patients: pilot study of a single subject design. Brain Inj. 1992;6(5):435–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lippert-Grüner M, Terhaag D. Multimodal early onset stimulation (MEOS) in rehabilitation after brain injury. Brain Inj. 2000;14(6):585–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mitchell S, Bradley V, Welch J, Britton P. Coma arousal procedure: a therapeutic intervention in the treatment of head injury. Brain Inj. 1990;4(3):273–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sisson R. Effects of auditory stimuli on comatose patients with head injury. Heart Lung. 1990;19(4):373–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Tablot L, Whitaker H. Brain-injured persons in an altered state of consciousness: measures and intervention strategies. Brain Inj. 1994;8(8):689–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wilson S, Powell G, Elliott K, Thwaites H. Sensory stimulation in prolonged coma: four single case studies. Brain Inj. 1991;5(4):393–400.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wilson S, Powell G, Brock D, Thwaites H. Behavioural differences between patients who emerged from vegetative state and those who did not. Brain Inj. 1996;10(7):509–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lombardi F. Sensory stimulation of brain-injured individuals in coma or vegetative state: results of a Cochrane systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2002;16:465–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kater K. Response of head-injured patients to sensory stimulation. West J Nurs Res. 1989;11:20–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Lancet. 1974;2(7872):81–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Johnson D, Roethig Johnston K, Richards D. Biochemical and physiological parameters of recovery in acute severe head injury: responses to multisensory stimulation. Brain Inj. 1993;7(6):491–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Davis A, Gimenez A. Cognitive-behavioral recovery in comatose patients following auditory sensory stimulation. J Neurosci Nurs. 2003;35(4):202–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Urbenjaphol P, Jitpanya C, Khaoropthu S. Effects of the sensory stimulation program on recovery in unconscious patients with traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci Nurs. 2009;41:10–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Oh H, Seo W. Sensory stimulation programme to improve recovery in comatose patients. J Clin Nurs. 2003;12:394–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Giacino J, Kalmar K, Whyte J. The JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised: measurement characteristics and diagnostic utility. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85(12):2020–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Schnakers C, Majerus S, Giacino J, et al. A French validation study of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). Brain Inj. 2008;22(10):786–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Schnakers C, Giacino J, Kalmar K, et al. Does the FOUR score correctly diagnose the vegetative and minimally conscious states? Ann Neurol. 2006;60(6):744–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Groswasser Z, Cohen M, Blankstein E. Polytrauma associated with traumatic brain injury: incidence, nature and impact on rehabilitation outcome. Brain Inj. 1990;4:161–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiology Department, International Vegetative State and Consciousness Science Institute, Hangzhou Normal University, Xuelin, 310036, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Haibo Di Ph.D.

  2. Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center, University of Liège, Allée du 6 Août, Sart Tilman B30, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Caroline Schnakers Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Haibo Di Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline Schnakers Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haibo Di Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Cyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Allée du 6 août 8, Liège, B-4000, Belgium

    Caroline Schnakers

  2. , Cyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Allée du 6 août 8, Liège, 4000, Belgium

    Steven Laureys

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Di, H., Schnakers, C. (2012). Sensory Stimulation Program. In: Schnakers, C., Laureys, S. (eds) Coma and Disorders of Consciousness. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2440-5_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2440-5_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2439-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2440-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation