Clinical application of connectomics to disorders of consciousness

The diagnosis, prognosis, and management of disorders of consciousness (DoC) after neurologic injury poses a profound challenge to clinicians. A growing literature suggests that functional and structural connectomics may have clinical value in these disorders, specifically in evaluating the level of neural dysfunction and predicting neurologic recovery. Here we review the literature that supports the clinical application of connectomics to DoC, methods for pursuing connectomics in this patient population, and the limitations to these applications. Future studies will be necessary to strengthen the clinical applicability of these methods, elucidate the physiology of DoC, and optimize therapeutic interventions.