We know that the answer to our biggest question about life, the universe and everything, 42 now holds the key to human consciousness.
Researchers came to this conclusion by measuring metabolic activities in the brain of a person in a coma. Is the brain dead or functional? As a result of the research conducted to find a clear answer to the question, they determined that the minimum activity should be 42 percent in order to gain consciousness.
Facing a very cruel topic to talk about, and hopefully those who read this post, will never have to make such a decision, the time comes to face the decision to unplug a loved one. Whenever this tragic riddle arises, the most important thing is to clarify before unplugging that the chances of returning are completely gone.
However, it is very difficult to determine the minimum state of consciousness (MCS) of an unconscious person. Determining whether the person's spark of consciousness is simply due to being alive or is unable to react due to a reason such as unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) is a very troublesome process.
A group of researchers who published their discoveries in the journal Current Biology stated that with the positron emission tomography (PET) technique, the difference between these two situations can be distinguished correctly.
PET technique works by measuring the level of gamma rays released as a result of the interaction with the tissues after the radioactive atoms called radionuclides are introduced into the body of the person. Thus, the change in glucose level, which is a sign of metabolic activity occurring in body cells at a certain time, is measured.
During PET scans of 131 patients with mental disorders – this technique is currently used in cancer detection – they found that it could be used to accurately detect the difference between MCS and UWS.
According to the results, UWS patients have proved that while they consciously show activity at the level of 38 percent of the metabolic activity of a healthy individual, individuals with MSC status show activity at a rate of 58 percent. In this way, researchers can predict whether a person will wake up from the coma.
One year later, 8 out of 11 patients who showed 42 percent metabolic activity on PET scans became conscious. As a result, the authors of the study "42 percent of normal cortical activity corresponds to the minimum energy requirement for cognitive awareness." He made an explanation in the form.
Maybe we finally know the answer to the question.