Cognitive neuroscience of hemispatial neglect

Patients with neglect often fail to be aware of stimuli located on their contralesional side--the side of space opposite their brain damage. Some patients show impairments in extrapersonal space; others within personal (body) space; and some in both. Although the neglect syndrome may be associated with a distorted perception of extrapersonal or personal space, recent investigations suggest that attentional, memory and motor deficits may be important additional components.

Better understanding of these cognitive impairments holds the key to offering effective treatment for neglect, as well as providing important insights into normal brain function.