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Just this past week I read an article for my senior seminar that relates to our talk on neural. The paper, entitled “Possible axonal regrowth in late recovery from the minimally conscious state” explores neuronal sprouting in the brains of two individuals who recovered (though not fully) years after going into a MCS.

For background, MCS is basically a slight step above persistent vegetative state. People in a MCS exhibit deliberate behavior, though it is often hard to distinguish between MCS and PVS.

I find it fascinating that the axonal regrowth can occur in the brains of people in a MCS. The fact that the brain can compensate/recover (even partially) after severe brain-injury is fascinating. The study suggests that, perhaps, this axonal regrowth leads to late recovery.” If this is in fact true, it makes me wonder how some MCS patients can sprout neurons and others never recover. I would assume it has to do with the type of brain injury that initially occurs, but what else affects axonal regrowth?