Oculomotor prismatic training is effective in ameliorating spatial neglect: a pilot study.
Visuomotor prismatic training has been demonstrated to be among the most effective rehabilitative techniques of spatial neglect, a neurological syndrome manifested by a number of right brain-damaged patients characterized by unawareness of the egocentric left half of the world. In the present study, we demonstrate that a novel oculomotor prismatic training procedure only consisting in a sequence of gaze shifts to visual targets, can reduce spatial neglect symptoms. Following oculomotor prismatic training, patients show a significant decrease in neglect severity in straight ahead and paper and pencil tasks. We propose that during oculomotor prismatic training, the inconsistency between the prisms-biased visual/oculomotor input and the unbiased head-on-trunk proprioceptive information relative to the straight-ahead position determines the observed aftereffects and the amelioration of spatial neglect symptoms.
SAMBA (SpAtial, Motor & Bodily Awareness) Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Po, 14, 10123, Torino, Italy. irene.ronga@unito.it.
I
I
Ronga
SAMBA (SpAtial, Motor & Bodily Awareness) Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Po, 14, 10123, Torino, Italy.
M
M
Franza
SAMBA (SpAtial, Motor & Bodily Awareness) Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Po, 14, 10123, Torino, Italy.
P
P
Sarasso
SAMBA (SpAtial, Motor & Bodily Awareness) Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Po, 14, 10123, Torino, Italy.
M
M
Neppi-Modona
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
Oculomotor prismatic training; Prismatic adaptation; Sensory integration; Spatial neglect; Straight ahead