Sleep and consciousness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sleep and consciousness - rise ExampleSome scientist and philosophers have defined death based on the functioning of the circulatory organization as a state when there is irreversible cessation of circulation. Since different definitions have been given to pardon death, there are several criterias that are used to determine death. In case of complete chief damage complete cessation of all clinical functions is a major criterion which could be demonstrated as coma. Similarly irreversible cessation of brainstem functions with absence of brainstem reflexes. Other criteria embroil absence of any other confounding factors, absence of motor responses, and apnoea. Neurological and cardiopulmonary tests are through to ascertain the death of an individual. In the neurological tests irretrievable brain stem function is determined, while in the cardiopulmonary test irretrievable absence of heart beat and breathing are determined. However, after more than debate it has been decided that t he cardiopulmonary criteria of death which declares that the heart will not auto-resuscitate and which occurs first is a satisfactory enough criterion to declare that a person is dead as it might take some(prenominal) time for the neurological criteria to occur.b) How do brain death and vegetative state differ? Consider a) behavioral, respiratory (apnoeameans lack of breathing), b) damage to specific brain structures, and c) brain activity (e.g. EEG, fMRI, PET).The major criterion for a person to be declared brain dead is presence of coma characterized by irreversible brain damage, while in the case of vegetative state a person is awake but in all unaware of the surroundings. Such a vegetative state can be partially or whole reversed. However persistent vegetative state cannot be reversed. Brain death can be diagnosed more quickly that irreversible vegetative state as it may take any where between 3 to 12 months depending on the extent of injury to the brain to ascertain vegetat ive state. Brain dead patients contract artificial ventilation