Oculomotor behaviour in simultanagnosia: a longitudinal case study

Neuropsychologia. 2005;43(11):1591-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.01.011. Epub 2005 Feb 25.

Abstract

The aim of the present single case study was to investigate oculomotor recovery in a patient with simultanagnosia due to biparietal hypoxic lesions. Applying visual exploration as well as basic oculomotor tasks in three consecutive test sessions--i.e. 8 weeks, 14 weeks, and 37 weeks after brain damage had occurred--differential recovery was observed. While visual exploration remarkably improved, an impaired disengagement of attention persisted. The improvement of exploration behaviour is interpreted within an oculomotor network theory and implications for a deficit-specific recovery from simultanagnosia are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Agnosia / physiopathology*
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / complications
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Recovery of Function
  • Time Factors
  • Visual Perception / physiology*