Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Assessment of Visual Acuity in Central Vision Loss Through Motion-Based Peripheral Vision Testing
Published on: February 23, 2024
Akinetopsia (visual motion blindness) associated with brain metastases: a case report
Lucas Henriques Viscardi1,2,3, Fabricio Diniz Kleber4, Henrique Custódio4
1Prejudice, Vulnerability and Psychosocial Processes Laboratory, Psychology Post-Graduation Program, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, Building 11 - 9th Floor - Room 933, Porto Alegre, CEP 90619-900, Brazil. viscardi.lucas@hotmail.com.
A rare neurological condition, akinetopsia (visual motion blindness), is presented in a patient with brain metastases from breast cancer. This case highlights a novel association between akinetopsia and metastatic brain disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuro-oncology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Akinetopsia, or visual motion blindness, is a rare neurological disorder characterized by the inability to perceive motion.
- It typically results from brain damage caused by ischemia, epilepsy, or medication.
Observation:
- This report details a unique case of akinetopsia in a patient experiencing a late breast cancer relapse with multiple brain metastases.
- The patient also presented with impaired perception of object movement, visual hallucinations, night terrors, and anterograde memory difficulties.
Findings:
- Neuroimaging (MRI) revealed significant brain damage, particularly in the middle temporal area of the visual cortex.
- This is the first documented instance of akinetopsia associated with brain metastases.
Implications:
- This case expands the known etiologies of akinetopsia, suggesting brain metastases as a potential cause.
- It underscores the importance of considering complex neurological syndromes in cancer patients with brain metastases.
