To determine the relations between unilateral visual neglect and other disfunctions, the degree of visual neglect in a searching task, peripheral vision, ocular movement and the accuracy of continuous choice reaction on a specific spot were examined in 100 patients with right hemispheric cerebro-vascular lesions whose age ranged 40 to 80 years. The results showed that: 1) some degree of deficiency in left peripheral vision always associated with the severer unilateral visual neglect, although a few patients with the equivalent degree of deficiency in peripheral vision exhibited no unilateral visual neglect, 2) the performance of the slow pursuit of ocular movement had no particular relations with the unilateral visual neglect, 3) the amount of unilateral visual neglect positively correlated to the amount of error responses in the continuous choice reaction without search. The hypothesis is advanced that the severer unilateral visual neglect is due to the left peripheral vision deficiency, but some mental “attitude” could supress the occurrence of unilateral visual neglect.

View full abstract

With a composite evaluation method and frequency analysis of EEG, we conducted periodic observations (mean follow-up period of 8 years) and observed that these two methods are meaningful in the study of the development of cerebral function.
1) The energy ratio of α-wave suggests a good indicator of the development of the cerebral function. The periodic change was observed, and based on such observations, the patients can be classified into 4 groups:
(1) Marked retardation in development
(2) Some degree of development but not reaching the normal level
(3) Normal development
(4) Rapid development at the age of around ten
Much attention has been paid to the last group of cerebral palsy with special training and therapy conducted in such cases.
2) Although there are some cases in which the degree of the development of cerebral function is not correlated with the degree of motor disturbance, the evaluation can be conducted by using our special evaluation chart with various items. Many cases were tested with the Southern California Sensory Integration Test and showed a good correlation with our chart. This chart will contribute as reference in predicting the development of the brain. However, the test results will change from year to year, and so it is important that the re-evaluation has to be done with the passage of time.
3) In the case of spastic hemiplegia and spastic diplegia with strong inter-hemispheric asymmetry, the asymmetry of energy ratio of α-wave will become more marked around the age of 10. It is of interest that the period just coincides with the period of the maturity of the brain and for the determination of laterality (right- or left-handedness). It is very important to continue the special training and therapy up to the age of 10 to build up the development pattern as normal as possible.
4) The development of cerebral function for children with cerebral palsy has been followed up periodically and a great difference from the normal development pattern of cerebral function has been recognized in many cases. It is difficult to predict the degree of cerebral development at an early stage and therefore a longterm follow-up observation would be important.

View full abstract