A new study has found that some patients with brain injuries have higher-level cognitive function while some have lower. The scans of the brains of these patients showed large and unpredictable variations.

A study was conducted by led Nicholas Schiff, of Weill Cornell Medical College to analyze the difference between the scans. Nicholas along with his fellow researchers conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to test a spectrum of brain-injured patients and those who have limited speech. The researchers gave the participants some specific commands while they were scanned. The participants whose brain showed some activity means that they had been able to follow the commands. There were variations in the ability of participants to respond.

Some participants were unable to communicate by gestures or voice was unable to do the mental tests while others who were unable to communicate, were able to answer the questions.

Mr. Schiff told that the fMRI is not capable of making any clear measurements of cognitive performance and more progress is required in this field. But these findings suggest that not all the patients with brain injuries could be treated in the same way.