Unlocking Consciousness: A Journey into the Grey Zone - European Medical Journal

Unlocking Consciousness: A Journey into the Grey Zone

Neurology

The EMJ Podcast | Episode 248

In this episode, Jonathan Sackier is joined by Adrian Owen, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging at the University of Western Ontario. They explore Owen’s groundbreaking research on consciousness in vegetative states, the ethical questions raised by his work, and the cutting-edge technology that has changed our understanding of the brain.

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Speaker bio: 

Adrian Owen, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging in the Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology and Psychology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, is a world-renowned neuroscientist known for his groundbreaking work in the field of neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience. 

Owen’s research uses advanced neuroimaging to assess consciousness of patients in vegetative states, showing that some of these patients can actually communicate with the outside world. Widely published in top scientific journals, his work has gained global media attention. He has authored over 300 papers and the bestselling book ‘Into the Gray Zone’, which explores the border between life and death.  

Owen previously served as Assistant Director of the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge University. He now directs the Azrieli Program in Brain, Mind, and Consciousness at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), which examines what consciousness is and how it comes about. He also serves on the Executive Committee of BrainsCAN at Western University.  

Timestamps:
  • 00:00 – Introduction
  • 02:46 – Taking one album on a desert island
  • 04:03 – A groundbreaking discovery about vegetative states
  • 06:58 – Owen’s bestseller: Into the Gray Zone
  • 11:18 – Where is the border between life and death?
  • 15:40 – Cutting-edge technologies for brain imaging
  • 20:11 – Applications of fMRI and EEG
  • 24:41 – Does brain-training work?
  • 31:09 – Implications for life support and end-of-life care
  • 36:00 – Owen’s three wishes for healthcare

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