Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State By Kenneth Maiese, MD, Rutgers University Reviewed / Revised May 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Prognosis Treatment Key Points A vegetative state is absence of responsiveness and awareness due to overwhelming dysfunction of the cerebral hemispheres, with sufficient sparing of the diencephalon and brain stem to preserve autonomic and motor reflexes and sleep-wake cycles.