Lack of orientation due to a congenital brain malformation: a case study.
Topographical disorientation is usually described in patients who have lost the ability to orient themselves as a consequence of acquired focal brain damage. Here, we describe the case of a 20-year-old woman with a congenital brain malformation who has never been able to orient herself within the environment. We addressed in detail her ability to orient and navigate within the environment by administering a number of tasks in both ecological and experimental surroundings. The results indicate a complete inability to use any kind of strategy useful for orientation.
Iaria
Giuseppe
G
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Universitá di Roma La Sapienza Roma, Italy. giuseppe.iaria@uniromal.it
Incoccia
Chiara
C
Piccardi
Laura
L
Nico
Daniele
D
Sabatini
Umberto
U
Guariglia
Cecilia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000150:complications*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013037:Spatial Behavior