Visual Perception Disorders: Spatial Neglect

Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ postings. Respond to a colleague who selected a different keyword topic than you did. Respond in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question and provide insight into how you would answer your question and why.

Ask a probing question and provide the foundation, or rationale, for the question.

Expand on your colleague’s posting by offering a new perspective or insight.

Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration.

Disagree with a colleague by respectfully discussing and supporting a different perspective.

Colleague Post:

Visual Perception Disorders: Spatial Neglect

The condition that I chose for this discussion is spatial neglect. While there are several different types of neglect, it is generally defined as ignoring visual, touch, and auditory stimulation on the opposite side of the injury. The text states that “the term neglect seems appropriate in patients who ignore food on the left side of the plate, shave only on the right side of the face, or fail to dress the left side of the body” (Garrett & Hough, 2021). Neglect is associated mostly with stroke patients and according to my article on spatial neglect, is more severe and persistent following right hemisphere damage (Li & Malhotra, 2015). The text also states that this condition occurs most frequently following right hemisphere stroke damage but can also occur with a left hemisphere stroke injury. It’s just not as common. It explains that “the mechanism is unclear; some studies suggest an inability to mentally represent the information from the neglected side, while others point to an attentional deficit due to the intact hemisphere directing attention to the non-neglected side” (Garrett & Hough, 2021). My article expanded on this by explaining different types of neglect:

“Personal neglect: patients may eat food only from one side of their plate, or pay less attention to one side when grooming, such that they shave, or apply make-up to, only one side of their face;

Neglect dyslexia: a wheelchair user may repeatedly bump into walls and objects on the neglected side or may omit words when reading text on the one side of the page, or misread one side of individual words;

Motor neglect: patients tend to not use their contralesional limb even when there is no weakness or sensory loss” (Li & Malhotra, 2015).

If I had this condition, everyday life could still be manageable with a little work and determination. Although I have never had a stroke (to my knowledge), I am blind in my right eye caused by damage to the left hemisphere of my brain. When it first occurred, I didn’t know what to do and I was scared for the longest time that my other eye was going to follow shortly after. I have trouble seeing at night now and I used to work overnights for years. I now work during the day but even now I have trouble with the brightness of lights. I had to leave one career and start another because my vision is off. As far as relationships are concerned, when it first happened, I was very depressed because I went from being fully independent to having to depend on others more than I wanted to. Now I have learned how to survive on my own again, needing help very seldom. It took a lot of work though. I had to change the way I lived completely. I now must pay close attention when pouring or reaching for items because my sight is off. One wrong move and liquid is all over the table. I put stock in paper towels because I spilled so much stuff. I had to get magnifying glasses to see things that would normally not be a problem for me. I had to quit certain crafts and activities because I couldn’t see correctly anymore. When I drive, I often find myself veering to the left side of the road, which is scary especially if you don’t realize you’re doing it. I often find myself walking towards the left as well, which is annoying when you’re with a crowd of people. I had to change my lifestyle completely and that was depressing until I accepted that I can’t change what has happened, so I need to learn how to adapt. What would have made this process so much easier though, is if I had guidance on how to survive like this from the beginning. I had no clue what to do and it seemed like people were either too scared or just didn’t care to help me. Someone from the VA finally reached out after about 3 months of self-torture and put me on the right path. I joined a support group for people who suffer from low vision and blindness, and I began to feel better because I knew I wasn’t alone. It also prepared me for what would happen if I lost my vision completely. So, I have to say that more education and support would ease the effects of this condition, not only for the patient but for the caregiver as well.

Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2021). Brain & Behavior. SAGE Publications.

Li, K., & Malhotra, P. A. (2015). Spatial neglect. Practical Neurology, 15(5), 333–339. 

Learning Resources

Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2022). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.

Chapter 9, “Hearing and Language”

Chapter 10, “Vision and Visual Perception”

Chapter 11, “The Body Senses and Movement”

Read only those sections on body senses. Movement sections are optional.

National Aphasia Association. (n.d.). Aphasia definitionsLinks to an external site..

Document: “How to Search PubMed” (Word document)

Optional Media

Many appropriate media pieces to further your understanding are available through the textbook publisher website:

SAGE edge. Brain & behavior: An introduction to biological psychology by Bob GarrettLinks to an external site..