Dysfunction in Attention Flashcards
Visuospatial Attention
Selectively processing one physical location in space to the exclusion of others
different than attention in ADHD, which is more related to executive function
Contralateral neglect behaviours
Deficit in attending to and reporting on objects in space that is opposite of the lesion; a spatial bias dor directing eye movements and actions towards ipsilesional space
egocentric is based on entire scene, while object-centered is based on each individual object
Causes and parts of brain affected in contralateral neglect
Caused by strokes, trauma, alzheimers
Right hemisphere:
Inferior parietal lobe and temporal parietal junction
Superior frontal cortex
Ventral frontal cortex
and white matter tracts that connect these 3 sites
These spaces are involved with spatial orienting, important to transform signals from the eyes and body into spatial representation.
How can we test for contralateral neglect?
Clock drawing, line cancellation, eye movements
these tests allow us to determine egocentric vs object centered neglect
What is balint’s syndome?
Severe disruption of attention based on large region in the brain.
Loss of spatial information outside of their own bodies and can only perceive one object in the scene at a time
What parts of the brain are damaged in balints syndrome?
What functions will remain?
Bilateral damage to parieto-occipital lobes
primary sensory processing, language, memory, and judgment will remain
3 features of Balint’s syndrome
Oculomotor apraxia
Optic ataxia
simultanagnosia
Oculomotor apraxia
sticky fixation of gaze
Optic ataxia:
disorder of visually-guided reaching, especially with contralesional hand
simultanagnosia
inability to perceive simultaneous objects or events in the visual field, constricted visual window of attention
Other visuospatial attention related conditions
Larger PPS correlated to trait anxiety and claustrophobia
Smaller PPS correlated with autism and schizophrenia
