Visuoconstructive deficit following infarction in the right basal ganglia: a case report and some experimental data

Visuospatial disorders are typically described as a consequence of right hemisphere, cortical lesions. We report the case of a female with visuoconstructive deficits with an infarct in the right basal ganglia, with no evidence of visual field defect, hemi-inattention, or sensory or motor loss. Using a process approach to obtain additional quantitative data, we showed that her visuoconstructive disorder could not be attributed to a defect in visual perception, per se. All other aspects of her neuropsychologic skills were normal. These findings provide additional support for the role of subcortical structures in spatially-related motor function and for the utility of applying experimental techniques to clarify the nature of deficits.