This chapter discusses locked-in syndrome, a condition where people are fully aware but unable to move or communicate due to paralysis. It explores how neuroscientists investigate and determine the level of awareness in locked-in patients, as well as the potential misdiagnosis of patients in a vegetative state. The chapter also delves into the story of Martin Pistorius and his journey of communication and adaptation.
At the age of 12 Martin Pistorius developed a mysterious neurological illness. He fell into a coma and was unable to move or communicate. It was assumed he had no awareness but a couple of years later he began to wake up—yet no-one knew. He was trapped inside his body for almost 10 years until he found a way to communicate. Using computer-generated voice technology he tells us about how he coped with this terrifying ordeal, and how he found the love of his life.