New communication hope for brain damaged patients

Scientists have discovered a new method of communicating with brain damaged patients who appear to be vegetative but are simply unable to respond.

Writing in the Lancet medical journal, they describe how they measured electrical activity in the brain to detect consciousness.

The brain activity was measured using an EEG - a painless test which involves placing electrodes on the head.

Roy Hayim was paralysed following a bout of food poisoning and after 10 days began communicating by moving a thumb.

He told the BBC's Medical Correspondent Fergus Walsh what the experience was like.