Superior Colliculi Involvement in Poststroke Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: The neural mechanisms underlying unilateral spatial neglect (USN) are unclear. The superior colliculi (SC) may be involved in USN expression, and the spatial summation effect (SSE), where reaction times to bilateral stimuli are faster than to unilateral, may be a behavioral index of SC function. We determined the feasibility of investigating SC contribution to poststroke USN using the SSE in 3 groups. Methods: Seven participants with left near-extrapersonal space USN (USN+) following right hemisphere stroke, 10 without (USN-), and 10 controls were tested under binocular/monocular (right eye patched) conditions while responding to unilateral/bilateral stimuli. Control and USN- groups completed the SSE paradigm. Results: Most USN+ participants were unable to initiate the SSE paradigm due to poor visual fixation and demonstrated higher contrast sensitivity for left-sided stimuli. Controls showed an SSE (under both viewing conditions) while the USN- showed an abnormal SSE whereby reaction times to bilateral stimuli were faster than to unilateral-left but not to unilateral-right stimuli (under both binocular/monocular conditions). Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate SC contribution in poststroke USN using the SSE; we identified higher contrast sensitivity to left-sided stimuli and poor fixation in the USN+ group. These findings suggest avenues for research that may lead to novel rehabilitation interventions.