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Neglect: clinical features and brain mechanisms

Neglect is a complicated neuropsychological syndrome with the typical feature of ignorance of the contralateral personal or extrapersonal space often together with anosognosia. The main emphasis in this project is to determine possible subtypes of neglect with their special features and relate the findings to accurate images of the damaged brain areas. All patients are also studied in laboratory conditions with psychophysical measurements and brain mapping (EEG and fMRI) techniques. The special purpose of this approach is to study the brain functions related to processing of the neglected information during the acute phase and during recovery from the brain damage. Results can be further utilized in more effective rehabilitation for neglect subtypes.

Researchers

The project is supervised by prof. Heikki Hämäläinen, Phil.Lic., neuropsychologist Arja Honkasaari and Dr. Olli Tenovuo. Other investigators are Teea Brunila and Maarit Jalas.

Funding

Main funding is from University of Turku, Academy of Finland and Turku University Central Hospital.

Contact

Heikki Hämäläinen, +358-2-333 5428
heikki.hamalainen@utu.fi
Department of Psychology Office +358-2-333 5430
CCN Office +358-2-333 8774

References

Brunila, T., Lincoln, N., Lindell, A., Hämäläinen, H., and Tenovuo, O. (2002) Experiences of combined visual treatment and arm activation in rehabilitation of unilateral visual neglect: a clinical study. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 12: 27-40.

Deouell. L.Y., Hämäläinen, H. and Bentin, S. (2000) Unilateral neglect following right hemisphere damage: Contributions from event- related potentials. Audiol. Neuro-otol. 5: 225-234.

Hämäläinen, H., Hiltunen, J. and Titievskaja, I. (2000) fMRI activations of SI and and SII cortices depend on attention. Neuroreport 11: 1673-1676.

Jalas, M., Lindell, A.B., Brunila, T., Tenovuo, O. and Hämäläinen, H. (in press) Initial rightward orienting bias in clinical tasks: normal subjects and right hemispheric stroke patients with and withour neglect. J. Clinical and Exp. Neuropsychology.