Abstract
During a series of studies of neural processes underlying coma following concussive head injury, we recognized processes similar to those originally termed coma-puncture by Araki et al. In this paper we will review the pioneer work by Araki and his colleagues in light of current information. The data from their studies and our own observations suggest that sudden, disorganized excitation of extensive areas in the pontomesencephalic region may be associated with neural sequences resulting in activation of neural systems that actively inhibit responsiveness to external stimuli and thereby produce coma.
