7 Journal of Health Sciences (J Health Sci) 2012; 2(2): 7–18 Open Access Open Journal Systems of Radom University in Radom, Poland ISSN 1429-9623 / 2012 CONSCIOUSNESS DISORDERS AS THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF BRAINSTEM ACTIVITY FAILURE - COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH Zaburzenia przytomności jako możliwy wynik upośledzonej aktywności pnia mózgu – podejście obliczeniowe Emilia Mikolajewska 1 , Dariusz Mikolajewski 2 1 Rehabilitation Clinic, The 10th Clinical Military Hospital with Policlinic, Bydgoszcz, Poland 2 Department of Informatics, Nicolas Copernicus University, Torun, Poland © The Author(s) 2012; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Radom University in Radom, Poland Number of characters: 18 800 (with abstracts). Number of images: 4 x 1000 characters (lump sum)= 4 000 characters. Total: Number of characters: 22 800 (with abstracts, summaries and graphics)=0,65 spreadsheets publishing. Corresponding Authors: 1 Emilia Mikolajewska Rehabilitation Clinic, The 10th Clinical Military Hospital with Policlinic, Bydgoszcz, Poland E-mail: <e.mikolajewska@wp.pl> 2 Dariusz Mikolajewski Department of Informatics, Nicolas Copernicus University, Torun, Poland E-mail: <darek.mikolajewski@wp.pl> Keywords: cognitive neuroscience; neurorehabilitation; consciousness; brainstem; disorders of consciousness; computational models; clinical applications. Abstract Human consciousness is perceived ability to be aware of himself and environment. Control of human consciousness, as a result of information integration, seems be one of the most complex processes within human nervous system. Disorders of consciousness are perceived one of the most severe disorders, both in acute and long-term therapy and care. Despite a few number of research there is strong belief that computational models in the area of consciousness control can provide better understanding and analysis crucial in contemporary neurology and neurorehabilitation. This paper, based on computational neuroscience approach, aims at familiarizing the newest tool and activate other scientists into providing further research.