When is a cue not a cue? On the intractability of visuospatial neglect

Abstract

We report a case of severe left visuospatial neglect after right hemisphere stroke in a left-handed man. His left hemiplegia necessitated that visuomotor tests of neglect were performed with the right hand. Under these conditions, the nature of his left neglect was no different from that shown by right handers. Experimental investigations of line bisection indicated that, to a greater or lesser extent, five distinct forms of cueing to the left side ameliorated the magnitude of his neglect. However, no manipulation showed any carry-over of improvement to uncued trials or to cued trials with brief delays imposed between cueing and bisection. The implications of this result for the remediation of neglect are discussed.