Directional hypokinesia and hemispatial inattention in neglect

Brain. 1990 Apr:113 ( Pt 2):475-86. doi: 10.1093/brain/113.2.475.

Abstract

Subjects with neglect of left hemispace may err to the right when bisecting lines. This error has been attributed either to a directional hypokinesia (failure to execute movements fully in or towards the contralateral hemispace) or to a failure to attend to or represent sensory information. Four subjects with neglect were tested on a line bisection task in which these two hypotheses were differentiated by preventing direct viewing of the line and instead using a video camera and monitor, each of which could be moved independently into right or left hemispace. The performance of 2 subjects was consistent with the predictions of the directional hypokinesia hypothesis; the performance of the other 2 subjects was consistent with the attention-representation deficit hypothesis. These data suggest that both a directional hypokinesia and an attention-representation deficit may each be a primary determinant of neglect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Attention*
  • Brain Diseases / complications*
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Diseases / psychology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders / etiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed