Covert Consciousness

Covert Consciousness: Detection and Treatment  

Neuroscience Strategic Intelligence, Grand Challenge Workshop

https://neurosas.org/strategic-intelligence/challenge-workshops/the-workshops/covert-consciousness%20detection-and-treatment/  

October 15-19; Crans-Montana, Switzerland     

Over the past decade, it has become clear that a significant number of behaviourally unresponsive patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) are covertly conscious, as shown by complex and/or voluntary cortical response patterns. The realisation that behaviourally unresponsive patients are not necessarily unconscious changes the way brain-injured and critically ill patients must be assessed and treated, and how families are counselled.  This Challenge Workshop will focus on the latest advances in detecting and managing covert consciousness in both ICU and sub-acute settings, supporting functional recovery through pharmacological or neurotechnological interventions, restoring communication via brain-machine interfaces, and navigating philosophical and ethical implications.  

Open to clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, ethicists, philosophers, and technologists.   Participation is limited to 20 individuals, selected on the basis of merit and relevance to the workshop.    

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all 20 available spots are filled.