Host: Gerry Brooks, MA, CCC, CBIST, Director of Brain Injury Programs, Northeast Center for Special Care

Guest: Nathan Zasler, MD, FAAPM&R, FAADEP, DAAPM, CIME, Medical Director, The Tree of Life Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center in Glen Allen, VA., Editor of the journal: "Brain Injury," and chairperson of the International Brain Injury Association.

Time: 32:25

Synopsis: Impairments of Consciousness and States of Consciousness Including the Vegetative State, is one that has been in the news over the past few years and one that has generated discussion not only with the public but also clinicians and professionals who specialize in treating brain injury. The question of individuals in a vegetative state was brought to the forefront with Terri Schaivo in 2005 and again recently with reports of enhanced arousal in some individuals in persistent vegetative states who had been given ambien.

Dr. Nathan Zasler discusses states of consciousness, coma, coma rating scales and gives an informative introduction to this topic.