Title

Broad-perspective perceptual disorder of the right hemisphere

Authors

Authors

L. E. Schutz

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Neuropsychol. Rev.

Keywords

brain injury prognosis; right hemisphere; right parietal syndrome; posterior association cortex; hemispheric specialization; anosagnosia; aprosodia; nonverbal learning disability; UNILATERAL SPATIAL NEGLECT; BRAIN-DAMAGED PATIENTS; STROKE PATIENTS; VISUAL NEGLECT; INPATIENT REHABILITATION; LEARNING-DISABILITIES; VISUOSPATIAL NEGLECT; DIRECTED ATTENTION; ASSOCIATION CORTEX; MEMORY; RETRIEVAL; Psychology, Clinical; Neurosciences

Abstract

Traditional accounts of right-posterior brain injury describe a syndrome of low-level perceptual sequelae producing marked acute dependency and transient safety concerns. The syndrome is also held to spare cognition and to carry a generally favorable long-term prognosis. The present paper reviews publications and anecdotal data that challenge this picture. Recent theoretical expositions and empirical studies stipulate three major cognitive functions of the right posterior association cortex: processing novel input, guiding reactions to emergencies, and anticipating consequences. Appearing benign after acute recovery, the impairment of these processes produces vocational, social and marital dysfunctions that increase as a function of chronicity, ultimately becoming more broadly disabling than focal injuries in other cortical loci. The unique symptom picture and serious implications suggest that the long-term syndrome should be labeled (Broad-Perspective Perceptual Disorder) and incorporated in future clinical taxonomies, underscoring the need for extraordinary long-term assistance and specialized therapeutics. Procedures for assessment and differential diagnosis are outlined.

Journal Title

Neuropsychology Review

Volume

15

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Review

Language

English

First Page

11

Last Page

27

WOS Identifier

WOS:000228673500002

ISSN

1040-7308

Share

COinS