无动性缄默(Akinetic mutism)是临床上一种颇为常见、但较特殊的意识障碍。它的病理机制是:由于上部脑干网状结构或间脑的部分损害,使得上行性网状激活系统(ascending reticular activiting system, ARAS)传导功能不全,大脑皮质得不到来自ARAS足够的兴奋性冲动,因此导致病人意识水平降低,意识内容丧失、只保留不自主的眼球活动和脑干神经元的一些反射性活动。 Akinetic mutism is a clinically common but special disorder of consciousness. Its pathological mechanism is that the ascending reticular activation system (ARAS) is impaired in conduction due to the partial damage of the upper brainstem network or the diencephalon, and the cerebral cortex can not get sufficient excitability from ARAS Impulse, thus leading to lower patient awareness, loss of consciousness, leaving only the involuntary eye movement and some reflective activity of brainstem neurons.