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Awareness in a Vegetative State

September 2, 2026 · 31 min

Show notes

When someone goes into a coma or vegetative state, it is only natural for their doctors and loved ones to try to understand their level of awareness of the world around them. But, every patient is different and it’s not as simple as it looks in the movies. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by a noted expert in the field of covert consciousness, Dr. Adrian Owen. They discuss his work on how the brain perceives the world from an unconscious state. Sam also looks into new research that solves a years-old puzzle about the physics of sprinklers and a study that is trying to give our brains the benefit of sleep without sleeping at all.  

 

Link to Show Notes HERE 

 

Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. 

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