If you had a serious brain injury, would you rather be in a complete coma with no self-awareness or would you rather have some minimal consciousness? If you chose the latter, then you would suffer the horror of knowing you were unable to fully communicate. In other words, you could be trapped in your own body.

Research with magnetic coils has shown that the rapid electrical field created by the coil can stimulate certain brain cells into action. Called “transcranial magnetic stimulation” or TMS, this technique can make it easier for brain cells to communicate and thus stimulate activity in otherwise comatose patients.

TMR appears to have had limited success in rousing one young man in a persistent vegetative state to a minimally conscious state. What we don’t know is to what extent this young man experiences self-awareness and therefore is able to suffer the anguish of understanding his predicament.

You can read more about this young man and the ethical dilemma posed by TMR in New Scientist.