what happens in the brain when you’re in a coma?

Question: what happens in the brain when you're in a coma?
- Keywords:
  coma
Asked by roryjames to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 14 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by boomitsgeorgia.
- Suzi Gage answered on 14 Jun 2011:
  
  Hi @roryjames
  Thanks for this question.
  A coma is caused by a malfunction in the brain, so your brain’s activation is by definition affected by being in a coma. However, recent studies that have put patients in comas in to a brain scanner have found there’s more activation still occurring than previously assumed, although as far as I’m aware this research is still going on.
  
  Anyone else know any more details on this?

Question: what happens in the brain when you're in a coma?