Damage to right frontal-subcortical network may cause ipsilateral spatial neglect

Further investigation needed to determine clinical implications of the differences between ipsilateral neglect and the more common contralateral neglect

Stroke researchers have confirmed that damage to the right frontal-subcortical network may cause ipsilateral spatial neglect. Among individuals with ipsilateral neglect, a much greater proportion had frontal subcortical damage than anticipated by the investigators - 83% vs the expected 27%. A difference was also seen in spatial bias, ie, the type of spatial errors among this group tended to be 'where' (perceptual-attentional) rather than 'aiming' (motor-intentional) errors. Ipsilesional Neglect: Behavioral and Anatomical Correlates (doi: 10.1037/neu0000122) was published online ahead of print on September 1 by Neuropsychology. The authors are Daniela L. Sacchetti and A.M. Barrett, MD, of Kessler Foundation, Kelly M. Goedert of Seton Hall University, and Anne L. Foundas of the University of Missouri.

The study was conducted in 12 patients with ipsilateral neglect. A computerized line-bisection task was used to evaluate spatial errors of 'where' and 'aiming' "Little is known about ipsilateral neglect, which is much less common than contralesional neglect," noted Dr. Barrett. "Our findings confirm that of prior studies showing that these patients tend to have lesions of the frontal-subcortical network. An unexpected finding was the spatial bias toward 'where' errors in this group. We need further investigation to determine the differences in functional deficits between ipsilateral and contralateral neglect, and the clinical implications of those differences for rehabilitation interventions."