The pathomechanism of visuo-spatial neglect within the context of therapies
Journal Title: Rehabilitacja Medyczna - Year 2011, Vol 15, Issue 3
Abstract
This article reviews the most wide-spread theoretical underpinnings of the pathomechanism of hemineglect syndrome and their therapeutic implications. The most frequent and disabling form of the syndrome, left visuo-spatial neglect, arises usually as a consequence of damage to the temporo-parietal regions of the right hemisphere of the brain. It manifests itself with difficulties in detecting or even imagining visual stimuli coming from the left side of space, that cannot be explained by primary sensory loss such as hemianopia. Visual neglect is most often associated with pathologies of spatial attention and of other attentional components, but also with distortion of the mental representation of space. The different views on the causes of this disorder have contributed to the development of various therapeutic approaches: ranging from the use of typical behavioral interventions to the application of specific neuro-modulation, and stimulation techniques as well as drug treatment attempts. Despite this, only the training of visual scanning has been so far recognized as “good practice standard”. Other interventions are recommended as a therapeutic option or are experimental and require further research on their effectiveness. Combined treatments which include various therapy approaches, are also being analyzed. It seems that for the further development of the treatment methods of hemineglect the most important is consideration of its pathomechanism not as a single entity, but as a set of interrelated cognitive dysfunctions which can directly cause or indirectly exacerbate the asymmetry in the visual scanning of space.
Authors and Affiliations
Katarzyna E. Polanowska, Joanna B. Seniów
Keywords
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