It is debatable as to whether the spontaneous blood-oxygen-level dependent 
fluctuations that are observed in the resting brain in turn reflect consciously 
directed mental activity or, alternatively, constitute an intrinsic property of 
functional brain organisation persisting in the absence of consciousness. This 
report shows for the first time, in three patients, that the persistent 
vegetative state (PVS) is marked by a dysfunctional default mode network, with 
decreased connectivity in several brain regions, including the dorsolateral 
prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulated cortex, especially in the right 
hemisphere. This finding supports the view that the resting state is involved in 
self-consciousness, and that the right-hemisphere default state may play a major 
role in conscious processes. It is speculated that the default state may act as 
a surrogate marker of PVS with awareness contents and, therefore, could replace 
a more complex activation paradigm.