Effects of standing and walking training using a laser pointer based on stimulus-driven attention for behavioural outcome in spatial neglect: A single-case study

ABSTRACT

The therapy for unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is unclear. This case report investigated the effect of standing and walking training using a laser pointer based on stimulus-driven attention for USN. The patient was a right-handed 79-year-old man with cardiogenic cerebral embolism in the right middle and posterior cerebral arteries. Initially, we evaluated the absence of hemiparalysis in the lower limb and sensory disorder; almost all daily activities were performed independently. Intervention effects were verified using the BABA method. The course of the four phases (B1, A1, B2, A2) was conducted for 5 days. In the B1 and B2 phases, standing and walking training using a laser pointer was performed additionally to conventional physical therapy. Outcomes were measured using the Behavioural Inattention Test conventional subtest (BIT-c), Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), and modified Posner task (MPT). The BIT-c remained unchanged in each phase. CBS scores improved after B1 and B2. In the MPT, the reaction time in the left space reduced after B1 and B2 compared with those in the A1 and A2 control phases. In this case, training may have contributed to the improvement in the response to the neglected space and behavioural assessment of USN.

KEYWORDS:

• Walking training
• Spatial neglect
• Stimulus driven attention
• Laser pointer
• Rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

We thank the rehabilitation staff at the Saitama Medical University International Medical Centre for their help during the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.