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Heading disorientation: a new test and a possible underlying mechanism
Ritsuo Hashimoto1, Yasufumi Tanaka, Imaharu Nakano
1Department of Neurology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan. ritsuo@iuhw.ac.jp
European Neurology
|January 22, 2010
Summary
Heading disorientation (HD) is a rare topographical disorientation. Patients with HD struggle to integrate spatial information with body direction changes, implicating the right retrosplenial cortex in navigation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Spatial Navigation Research
Background:
- Heading disorientation (HD) is a rare form of topographical disorientation with an unclear mechanism.
- Few cases of HD have been reported, necessitating further investigation into its neural basis.
Observation:
- A novel card-placing test (CPT) was developed to assess spatial orientation abilities.
- The CPT evaluates the retention of spatial card locations (Part A) and the integration of spatial information with body direction changes (Part B).
Findings:
- Three patients with HD consistently demonstrated intact spatial location memory (Part A).
- These patients exhibited significant deficits in integrating spatial information with body direction changes (Part B).
- Lesions commonly involved the right retrosplenial cortex in all HD patients.
Implications:
- The findings suggest the right retrosplenial cortex is crucial for integrating egocentric spatial information with proprioceptive cues for navigation.
- HD may arise from an inability to combine spatial layout with self-motion information.
- This research provides insight into the neural substrates supporting complex spatial orientation and navigation.
