Very interesting. Naturally I'm skeptical due to the small sample size, and them seemingly only testing her auditory, and motor responses. However, the apparent gradual dampening of her reactions is indeed intriguing, it'd be nice to see some sort of follow up study.
If they indeed found an on/off switch, it'd be interesting to attempt to "kickstart" some coma victims. If it works, it'd be a major breakthrough.
Lots of neurology results are on truly small data sizes. You can't insert electrodes into brains or cut out brain parts at will for ethical reasons, so you have to wait for a patient where you have to insert one in just the right place for other reasons.
So, it may be a while before you see that follow-up study.
On a side note, the combination of antibiotics with fast recovery of injured soldiers has been very beneficial to neurology, as it meant that neurologists saw more living patients with horrific brain injuries.
It is unlikely that anybody would find this in patients with traumatic injuries, though. A projectile damaging this area deep in the brain likely would take out lots of other areas, too, and would be lethal, even if one gets the patient in a hospital within minutes.
Auditory and motor responses and a total cessation of internal thought and/or short term memory formation that would provide any evidence of internal thought continuing during the stimulation.
But they seriously need to test that on someone with an intact hippocampus.
If they indeed found an on/off switch, it'd be interesting to attempt to "kickstart" some coma victims. If it works, it'd be a major breakthrough.