Language-specific Dysgraphia in Korean Patients with Right Brain Stroke: Influence of Unilateral Spatial Neglect

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Korean language-specific dysgraphia and unilateral spatial neglect in 31 right brain stroke patients. All patients were tested for writing errors in spontaneous writing, dictation, and copying tests. The dysgraphia was classified into visuospatial omission, visuospatial destruction, syllabic tilting, stroke omission, stroke addition, and stroke tilting. Twenty-three (77.4%) of the 31 patients made dysgraphia and 18 (58.1%) demonstrated unilateral spatial neglect. The visuospatial omission was the most common dysgraphia followed by stroke addition and omission errors. The highest number of errors was made in the copying and the least was in the spontaneous writing test. Patients with unilateral spatial neglect made a significantly higher number of dysgraphia in the copying test than those without. We identified specific dysgraphia features such as a right side space omission and a vertical stroke addition in Korean right brain stroke patients. In conclusion, unilateral spatial neglect influences copy writing system of Korean language in patients with right brain stroke.

Language-specific Dysgraphia in Korean Patients with Right Brain Stroke: Influence of Unilateral Spatial Neglect

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Korean language-specific dysgraphia and unilateral spatial neglect in 31 right brain stroke patients. All patients were tested for writing errors in spontaneous writing, dictation, and copying tests. The dysgraphia was classified into visuospatial omission, visuospatial destruction, syllabic tilting, stroke omission, stroke addition, and stroke tilting. Twenty-three (77.4%) of the 31 patients made dysgraphia and 18 (58.1%) demonstrated unilateral spatial neglect. The visuospatial omission was the most common dysgraphia followed by stroke addition and omission errors. The highest number of errors was made in the copying and the least was in the spontaneous writing test. Patients with unilateral spatial neglect made a significantly higher number of dysgraphia in the copying test than those without. We identified specific dysgraphia features such as a right side space omission and a vertical stroke addition in Korean right brain stroke patients. In conclusion, unilateral spatial neglect influences copy writing system of Korean language in patients with right brain stroke.

Aspectos clínicos y modelos teóricos en el Síndrome de Neglect / Clinicalaspects and theoretical models in Neglect Syndrome

En este trabajo se revisa y discute el síndrome de neglect considerando diferentes modelos teóricos explicativos; de dirección atencional, de asimetrías hemisféricas cerebrales, del sesgo atencional o el modelo de atención selectiva. Se consideran los aspectos cognitivos, emocionales y neuroconductuales. El Síndrome de Neglect generalmente es consecuencia de un accidente cerebrovascular, afecta al hemisferio cerebral derecho y señala directamente al lóbulo parietal. Este es el resultado de una definición anatómica vasta más que una unidad fisiológica o funcional. El síndrome se manifiesta por déficits en la atención perceptiva y en la respuesta a estímulos presentados en el hemicampo contralesional. Es un síndrome heterogéneo. Pese a la preponderancia de las teorías de déficits atencionales, las explicaciones de déficits perceptivos y de representación del espacio están presentes. Son variaciones del síndrome la heminatención, la extinción, la hemicinesia y el neglect hemiespacial. Se resalta la importancia de incluir los aspectos emocionales y neuroconductuales junto con los cognitivos y la rehabilitación motora en el proceso de rehabilitación neuropsicológica del síndrome. Son característicos los síntomas de anosognosia, extinción, desinhibición de conducta, conducta de utilización o la falta de afecto. En cuanto a la recuperación y a cómo ocurre esta, se discuten varias explicaciones alternativas y se apunta el papel de la motivación como factor importante en el éxito de los tratamientos.

This paper reviews the syndrome Neglect considering different theoretical models: attentional direction; of cerebral hemispheric asymmetry, attentional bias, selective attention model. The cognitive, emotional and neurobehavioral characteristics are high lighted. Neglect syndrome usually results from a stroke that affects the right cerebral hemisphere and points directly to the parietal lobe. This is the result of an extensive anatomical definition more than that one functional unit or physiological. The syndrome is manifested by deficits in attention and perceptual responses to stimuli presented in the contralesional hemispace. Neglect is a heterogeneous syndrome. Despite the preponderance of theories of the attentional deficit, explanations of perceptual deficits and representation of space are present. The syndrome manifestations are the heminatención, the extinction, the hemispatial hemicinesia and the neglect. They are very important the emotional aspects as the cognitive, neurobehavioral and motor rehabilitation, in the neuropsychological rehabilitation process of syndrome. Symptoms of anosognosia, extinction, behavioral disinhibition, and the utilization behavior or lack of affection are the most prominent in the syndrome. In terms of recovery, how to happen this? We discuss several alternative explanations and the role of motivation as an important factor in the success of treatments.