Advances in neuroimaging and neuroscience hold significant promise for improving understanding of disorders of consciousness arising from severe brain injuries. This volume brings together basic neuroscientists and investigators who focus on neuroimaging studies of patients in different clinical settings with disorders of consciousness. Discussed are ways of advancing knowledge of diagnostic methods and experimental therapeutic strategies for disorders of consciousness as well as identifying important challenges for professionals engaged in the study of patients with such disorders. Of particular interest and focus of discussion are: - an integrated presentation of basic and clinical neuroscience with neuroethics; - neuroimaging of volitional behavior in apparently unconscious patients; - neuroimaging of pain in the minimally conscious state; - experimental and clinical studies of central thalamic brain stimulation in the injured brain; - new concepts in neuroethics; and - new diagnostic methods for assessment of severe brain injury Published in cooperation with the Association for Research on Nervous and Mental Disorders. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http: //www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member.