The latter group includes cases such as when the subject is in a persistent vegetative state, PVS, in which patients in a coma are awake and breathing independently, but have apparently lost all higher brain functions.

后者包括一些案例，如当研究对象性植物状（PVS）时，患者虽迷状但能自主清醒并呼吸，然而明显丧失了所有高级脑功能。