Abstract
Background:
The relationship of spatially specific and non-lateralised attentional deficits to perceptual and premotor neglect was explored in 25 patients with chronic neglect. The association between severity of neglect and attention deficits was also studied.
Methods:
Alertness, selective attention and exploration performance were assessed using a battery of computerised and paper-pencil tests.
Results:
Perceptual and premotor neglect groups differed in the manifestation of attention deficits in the contralesional and ipsilesional hemispace. Differences in the performance time and accuracy were observed to be a function of neglect severity.
Conclusion:
Paper-pencil tests were more sensitive to assess attention deficits in patients with different neglect types and severities of neglect than computerised tests. Therefore, diagnostic evaluation should include both paper-pencil and computerised assessments in order to identify spatially specific as well as non-lateralised attentional deficits.
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