Prism adaptation moves neglect-related perseveration to contralesional space.
BACKGROUND
Hemi-neglect is a disorder characterized by a disregard of contralesional stimuli. Some neglect patients also show an "exaggerated attention" for the ipsilesional field, reflected in perseverative responses, such as repetitive fixations in the ipsilesional field, ipsilesional revisitings on standard cancellation, or exaggerations in drawings on the ipsilesional side.


OBJECTIVE
It is still unclear whether neglect and perseveration are due to a single underlying mechanism. In the present study, we will examine the effect of 4-day-in-a-row prism adaptation on neglect and perseveration severity in a patient with severe perseverations. Additionally, we will examine whether the position of omissions and perseverations on the Star Cancellation will change during the intervention.


RESULTS
Our patient showed a decrease in neglect severity and an increase in perseveration severity, suggesting that perseveration and neglect are dissociated phenomena. Interestingly, 4-day-in-a-row prism adaptation gradually moved the predominant position of perseverative responses from right to left as neglect decreased with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Perseverative responses do not necessarily occur in the ipsilesional sector of space as is generally assumed. Instead, the position of the revisits may be determined by the severity of the neglect, and may shift when the focus of attention moves more contralesionally with recovery.
Nys
Gudrun M S
GM
Laboratory for Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Ghent University, Belgium. Gudrun.Nys@UGent.be
Seurinck
Ruth
R
Dijkerman
H Chris
HC
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading