EEG complexity correlates with residual consciousness level of disorders of consciousness

Abstract

Abstract Background and objective Electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging measurements have been highly encouraged to be applied in clinics of disorders of consciousness (DOC) to improve consciousness detection. We tested the relationships between neural complexity measured on EEG and residual consciousness levels in DOC patients. Methods Resting-state EEG was recorded from twenty-five patients with DOC. Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZC) and permutation Lempel–Ziv complexity (PLZC) were measured on the EEG, and their relationships were analyzed with the consciousness levels of the patients. Results PLZC and LZC values significantly distinguished patients with a minimally conscious state (MCS), vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS), and healthy controls. PLZC was significantly correlated with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scores of DOC patients in the global brain, particularly in the anterior and posterior brain regions. Patients with higher CRS-R scores showed higher PLZC values. The significant difference in PLZC values between MCS and VS/UWS was mainly located in the anterior and posterior brain regions. Conclusion Neural complexity measured on EEG correlates with residual consciousness levels of DOC patients. PLZC showed higher sensitivity than LZC in the classification of consciousness levels.