Effects of prism adaptation on motor-intentional spatial bias in neglect

Neuroreport. 2011 Oct 5;22(14):700-5. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32834a3e20.

Abstract

Prism adaptation may alleviate some symptoms of spatial neglect. However, the mechanism through which this technique works is still unclear. This study investigated whether prism adaptation differentially affects dysfunction in perceptual-attentional 'where' bias versus motor-intentional 'aiming' bias. Five neglect patients performed a line bisection task in which lines were viewed under both normal and right-left reversed viewing conditions, allowing for the fractionation of 'where' and 'aiming' spatial bias components. After two consecutive days of prism adaptation, participants demonstrated a significant improvement in 'aiming' spatial bias, with no effect on 'where' spatial bias. These findings suggest that prism adaptation may primarily affect motor-intentional 'aiming' bias in poststroke spatial neglect patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perceptual Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Space Perception / physiology*