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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Published on: March 10, 2021

Task-sensitivity of unconscious word processing in spatial neglect.

Kimihiro Nakamura¹, Tatsuhide Oga, Hidenao Fukuyama

¹Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. kimihiro.nakamura@live.fr

Neuropsychologia

|March 27, 2012

Summary

Even when visuospatial attention is compromised, non-conscious processing of ignored words is influenced by task demands in spatial neglect patients. This reveals task-sensitive neural pathways operating on imperceptible stimuli.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Published on: March 10, 2021

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets

Published on: December 5, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuropsychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Visual Perception

Background:

Spatial neglect patients exhibit behavioral changes from ignored visual stimuli without conscious awareness.
Non-conscious cognitive processing may be modulated by voluntary behavioral control, not entirely automatic.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if non-conscious processing of ignored words in spatial neglect is modulated by behavioral task requirements.
To assess the impact of different task instructions on unconscious word processing in neglect patients.

Main Methods:

Utilized a hemifield priming paradigm with masked primes presented to either visual field.
Participants performed two tasks: word naming and word categorization.
Compared neglect patients with healthy and right-hemisphere control participants.

Main Results:

Neglect patients displayed distinct masked priming patterns compared to controls.
All participant groups demonstrated significant sensitivity to task context during unconscious word processing.
Task instructions influenced the processing of invisible stimuli in all groups.

Conclusions:

Robust, task-sensitive neural pathways operate on imperceptible visual stimuli even with severe visuospatial attention deficits.
Non-conscious processing in spatial neglect is not purely automatic but is subject to behavioral control and task demands.