Israeli scientists from the Weizmann Institute have developed a unique test that can predict the chances of recovery in patients with brain injuries and unconsciousness.

According to Xinhua, if the patient suffered a severe brain injury and does not regain consciousness, it is very difficult for doctors to understand whether there is a chance that he will ever wake up. There are no tests that can help determine this, and as a result, doctors may make the wrong decision to disconnect patients from life support devices.

Scientists from the Weizmann Institute focused on the olfactory system, by which it is possible to assess the state of the brain as a whole. The new test relies on how the flow of air in the nose changes in response to the aroma. For example, if a person feels an unpleasant odor, he begins to take shorter and shallow breaths. It works even while sleeping.

As part of the experiment, scientists placed sources of different odors under the nose of 43 patients. Among them was the pleasant smell of shampoo and the unpleasant smell of rotten meat, and sometimes there was no smell at all. Scientists measured the amount of air inhaled through the nose. It turned out that all unconscious patients, but reacted to odors (the volume of inhaled air changed), later regained consciousness.