ABSTRACT
The aims of this paper were to identify patients with tactile neglect, to corroborate its independence from visual neglect, to ascertain its presence along the radial dimension of space and to detect a gradient of performance, as recently reported for visual neglect. To this end eight patients with vascular right cerebral lesions and 28 healthy controls have been tested with a modified version of the tactile maze test of De Renzi et al. [Cortex, vol. 6, pp. 191-203, 1970] and a seven-test clinical battery to detect the presence of visual USN. Four patients presenting tactile USN were selected: two showed left tactile neglect while the other two showed tactile neglect for far space. The distribution of omissions showed a clear spatial gradient. Since our patients were blindfolded, neglect behaviour in the tactile domain cannot be attributed to the attractive power of visual information. However, 25% of the normal subjects were also significantly faster in the 'near' space pointing towards the possibility that neglect for 'far' space can reflect the exaggeration of a normal asymmetry.
Subject(s)
Functional Laterality/physiology , Sensation Disorders/physiopathology , Space Perception/physiology , Touch/physiology , Adult , Aged , Cerebrovascular Disorders/physiopathology , Cerebrovascular Disorders/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Maze Learning/physiology , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychomotor PerformanceABSTRACT
The paper discusses the utility and appropriateness of instrumental tests (in particular scintigraphic detection) which are regularly used for the preoperative diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. The case is reported of a 9-month-old infant affected by severe recidivating attacks of melena in whom the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum was delayed by the repeated negativity of instrumental tests.
