Thoughts of woman in 'waking coma' revealed Brain scans of vegetative patient ignites debate over her awareness. Michael Hopkin Neuroscientists have reignited the debate over whether patients in a vegetative state are conscious of their surroundings, by claiming that a woman in such a 'waking coma' can respond to verbal commands. The researchers say that brain scans show that she can selectively think of performing certain actions, such as playing tennis, on request. The British-led research team made the discovery after examining the brain of a severely brain-damaged patient who had been in a vegetative state — defined as a...