Abstract
We studied hemispatial neglect in 16 patients with cerebrovascular disease. Twelve patients had a lesion in the territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA group, mean age 70 y.o.) and 4 patients in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA group, mean age 72 y.o.). The MCA lesions were centered in the parieto-temporo-occipital junction, and the PCA lesions included the medial aspect of the occipital lobe or temporal lobe. In the MCA group, all cases denied hemianopia (anosognosia) and most cases showed extinction of stimuli on double simultaneous stimulation (DSS) in somatosensory and auditory modalities. In the PCA group, all cases showed awareness of hermianopia without extinction on DSS and topographical disorientation. The hemispatial neglect lasted longer and its recovery was worse in the MCA group than in the PCA group. These findings suggest that different mechanisms may be involved in the hemispatial neglect caused by MCA and PCA lesions.
