Akinetic Mutism

Akinetic mutism is a disorder of consciousness and motivation in which the patient appears awake and visually alert but shows markedly reduced spontaneous movement and speech. Unlike a vegetative state, awareness may be relatively preserved, but the drive to initiate voluntary activity is severely impaired. It is commonly associated with lesions involving the medial frontal lobes, anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor areas or their connections with the thalamus and basal ganglia. Patients may track objects with their eyes and occasionally respond to strong stimulation. It must be distinguished from coma, vegetative state, locked-in syndrome and severe depression.