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Line bisection as an early method to assess homonymous hemianopia
Georg Kerkhoff1, Leandra Bucher
1Saarland University, Department of Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Saarbrücken, Germany. kerkhoff@mx.uni-saarland.de
Summary
The horizontal line bisection task, commonly used for visuospatial neglect, was originally developed to diagnose hemianopia. Early research detailed a specific contralesional error in hemianopic patients, a finding largely overlooked until recently.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- The horizontal line bisection task is a standard clinical tool, primarily recognized for assessing visuospatial neglect.
- Visuospatial neglect typically results in an ipsilesional deviation in line bisection.
- Less recognized is the opposite, contralesional deviation observed in hemianopic patients.
Observation:
- A 1894 report by Dr. D. Axenfeld described line bisection as a diagnostic method for hemianopia.
- This early work detailed the 'typical hemianopic line bisection error,' a contralesional deviation.
- The finding was widely cited in German literature between 1900-1920, influencing studies by prominent researchers.
Findings:
- Modern studies often adapt the line bisection task for neglect research, overlooking its origins in hemianopia assessment.
- The contralesional error in hemianopia was documented over a century ago but subsequently neglected in scientific literature.
- This paper translates Axenfeld's original report and synthesizes early findings on hemianopic line bisection.
Implications:
- Revisiting the historical use of line bisection can enhance understanding of visual field deficits.
- Recognizing the hemianopic line bisection error could refine diagnostic tools for visual field impairments.
- Understanding why this phenomenon was forgotten may offer insights into scientific memory and research trends.
