Diffusion weighted imaging distinguishes the vegetative state from the minimally conscious state

►VS and MCS patients differ in the severity of white matter and thalamus damage. ►These differences can be detected in vivo using DTI. ►DTI-derived indices from these regions predict scores on the Coma Recovery Scale. ►They can also accurately classify the patients into their right diagnostic category. ►This could be used to study the basis of behaviourally defined differences in health.