Pupillographic findings in neglect

Abstract

Objectives - Unilateral sensory neglect has been attributed to various defects, including a hemispatial attention-arousal deficit. However, support for this hypothesis has only been indirect. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to further test the hemispatial attentional-arousal hypothesis by measuring pupillary response as an index of arousal. Methods - There were two experimental subjects with neglect and six matched controls. Stimuli (Arabic numbers) were presented on the right, left, and centre of a screen. The subjects were asked to look at the number in the centre, on the right, or left of the screen while their pupil diameter was measured. Results - Unlike the control subjects, the subjects with neglect, who were aware of the left sided stimuli, did not show a Methods pupillary dilatation when they looked at the stimulus on the left. Conclusions - Although this study provides support for the hemispatial attention-arousal hypotheses of neglect, it does not preclude the possibility that other mechanisms may also be important.