Phasic Alertness Effects in Unilateral Spatial Neglect

Abstract

The most prominent behavioural symptom of patients with visual hemi-neglect consists in a spatial rightward bias reflected in e.g. asymmetries in spatial exploration and motor performance. There is increasing evidence that also non-spatial deficits, such as e.g. reduced intrinsic alertness, may also play a crucial role in the disorder. It has been shown that phasically alerting patients may overcome their pathological rightward lateralization (e.g., Robertson et al., 1998). However, it is not precisely clear to date which attentional components are actually influenced by an increase in phasic alertness.