Annen, JitkaBlandiaux, SéverineLejeune, NicolasBahri, Mohamed A.Thibaut, AuroreCho, WoosangGuger, ChristophChatelle, CamilleLaureys, Steven2018-07-252018Annen, Jitka, Séverine Blandiaux, Nicolas Lejeune, Mohamed A. Bahri, Aurore Thibaut, Woosang Cho, Christoph Guger, Camille Chatelle, and Steven Laureys. 2018. “BCI Performance and Brain Metabolism Profile in Severely Brain-Injured Patients Without Response to Command at Bedside.” Frontiers in Neuroscience 12 (1): 370. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00370. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00370.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:37298424Detection and interpretation of signs of “covert command following” in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) remains a challenge for clinicians. In this study, we used a tactile P3-based BCI in 12 patients without behavioral command following, attempting to establish “covert command following.” These results were then confronted to cerebral metabolism preservation as measured with glucose PET (FDG-PET). One patient showed “covert command following” (i.e., above-threshold BCI performance) during the active tactile paradigm. This patient also showed a higher cerebral glucose metabolism within the language network (presumably required for command following) when compared with the other patients without “covert command-following” but having a cerebral glucose metabolism indicative of minimally conscious state. Our results suggest that the P3-based BCI might probe “covert command following” in patients without behavioral response to command and therefore could be a valuable addition in the clinical assessment of patients with DOC.en-UScovert command followingP3FDG-PETdisorders of consciousnessconsciousnessbrain computer interfaceJournal Article2018-07-2510.3389/fnins.2018.00370