A left attentional bias in chronic neglect: a case study using temporal order judgments

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Left visuospatial neglect is typically associated with a rightward temporal advantage in temporal order judgments (TOJs).
• This case study investigates an individual with left-sided neglect exhibiting an atypical leftward temporal advantage on TOJ tasks.

Observation:

• The left temporal advantage persisted even with a novel red/blue TOJ task designed to minimize response bias.
• Phasic alerting tones did not ameliorate the observed attentional bias in this individual.
• Mixing unilateral trials with bilateral trials reduced the leftward advantage, indicating flexible attentional control.

Findings:

• The individual consistently demonstrated a left temporal advantage on TOJ tasks, contradicting typical findings in visuospatial neglect.
• Strategic endogenous attentional strategies appear to play a significant role in modulating this individual's attentional bias.
• The lack of response to alerting tones suggests specific mechanisms underlying this unique presentation of neglect.

Implications:

• Findings suggest a more complex interplay of endogenous and exogenous attention in visuospatial neglect.
• The results have potential implications for developing targeted rehabilitation therapies for attentional disorders.
• This case highlights the importance of considering individual differences in attentional strategies for understanding and treating neglect.