title: Digit span performance and unilateral neglect.
abstract: This study tested the alternative hypotheses of Weinberg et al. (J. clin. Psychol. 28, 361, 1976) and Robertson (Neuropsychologia 28, 217-222, 1990) regarding the nature of dysfunctions underlying impaired backward digit span among patients with unilateral neglect. Results support the Weinberg et al. hypothesis that visual imagery plays a primary role in performance of Digits Backward. The findings also indicate a unilateral component to the Digits Backward task. Both neglecting and non-neglecting patients with high digit span discrepancy (DD) evidenced attentional bias to right space and a specific impairment in rotating objects in left space. Results were not consistent with Robertson's hypothesis that high DD arises from a general attentional deficit. In fact, patients with low DD evidence greatest impairment on tests of attention.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rapport
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dutra
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales