Main description:

Within the field of neuroscience, the past few decades have witnessed an exponential growth of research into the brain mechanisms underlying both normal and pathological states of consciousness in humans. The development of sophisticated imaging techniques to visualize and map brain activity in vivo has opened new avenues in our understanding of the pathological processes involved in common neuropsychiatric disorders affecting consciousness, such as epilepsy, coma, vegetative states, dissociative disorders, and dementia. This book presents the state of the art in neuroimaging exploration of the brain correlates of the alterations in consciousness across these conditions, with a particular focus on the potential applications for diagnosis and management. Although the book has a practical approach and is primarily targeted at neurologists, neuroradiologists, and psychiatrists, it will also serve as an essential reference for a wide range of researchers and health care professionals.

Contents:

Part 1 Brain imaging and pathologies of consciousness.- Consciousness and neuroscience.- Consciousness: theoretical approaches.- Functional brain imaging and consciousness.- Part 2 Brain imaging and alternations of consciousness in epilepsy.- Temporal lobe seizures.- Absence seizures.- Brain imaging and alterations of consciousness in epilepsy: Generalized tonic-clonic seizures.- Consciousness, epilepsy and intracranial EEG.- Part 3 Brain imaging and alterations of consciousness in coma, sleep and anesthesia.- Neuroimaging of consciousness in the vegetative and minimally conscious states.- Sleep and consciousness .- Anesthesia.- Part 4 Brain imaging and alterations of consciousness in neuropsychiatric disorders.- Neuroimaging studies of interoception and self-awareness.- Neuroimaging of functional neurological symptoms.- Neuroimaging studies of the dwindling self: neurodegenerative dementias.