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The contribution of an avoidance response to contralateral neglect
Matthew H Kodsi1, Kenneth M Heilman
1Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Florida Health Sciences Center, PO Box 100236, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. mkodsi@ufl.edu
Neurology
|June 12, 2002
Summary
Right hemisphere lesions can cause hemispatial neglect, affecting attention and intention. This study reveals that avoidance responses also contribute to neglect, alongside intention, in patients with brain lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Hemispatial neglect, characterized by line bisection displacement to the right of midline following right hemisphere lesions, is traditionally attributed to contralesional attentional or intentional deficits.
- Recent hypotheses suggest that ipsilesional eye and hand deviations, often linked to neglect, may also involve an avoidance response component.
Observation:
- The study details a patient presenting with a right hemisphere lesion.
- This patient exhibited a net contralateral neglect, a condition affecting spatial awareness and attention.
Findings:
- The observed contralateral neglect resulted from a combination of both intention and avoidance factors.
- This suggests that neglect is not solely driven by attentional or intentional deficits but can also be influenced by avoidance behaviors.
Implications:
- These findings challenge the traditional understanding of hemispatial neglect, highlighting the role of avoidance responses.
- Understanding the interplay of intention and avoidance is crucial for developing more effective therapeutic strategies for patients with right hemisphere damage and neglect.