Domain-specific forms of neglect

Abstract

In this paper, it is assumed that domain specificity is one of the crucial criteria of modularity. It is also assumed that hemispatial neglect is basically a spatial attention deficit. Then, the literature that has shown, on the basis of either single or double dissociations, that neglect can be confined to very specific representational domains is reviewed. In particular, two recent studies are summarized that reported dissociations between perceptual and motor neglect and between visual and tactile neglect. It is suggested that disorders of spatial attention can affect just one spatial representational domain. This satisfies the domain specificity criterion of modularity and suggests that spatial attention mechanisms may be modular.

Thanks are due to S. Bentin, Y. Levy, and an anonymous reviewer for very helpful comments on an earlier draft of this article.