Abstract
Background: The cerebellum plays a role in higher-order
cognitive processes, although the evidence concerning spatial
cognition is not definite.
Objective: To investigate the role of the cerebellum in setting the
midpoint of a horizontal line and to assess the role of visual
monitoring of the movement of the upper limb.
Methods: Twelve patients, 6 with left-sided and 6 with rightsided
cerebellar damage, and 12 control participants, marked
the midpoint of horizontal lines with their left or right hand,
under conditions of present versus absent visual control of the
movement of the upper limb.
Results: When visual feedback was available, the patients’
accuracy was comparable to that of control participants with
a minor leftward bias. Without visual feedback, controls and
right-sided cerebellar patients exhibited a rightward bias.
Conversely, left-sided cerebellar patients still showed a leftward
bias.
Conclusions: The leftward bias may be related to the visual
monitoring of the movement of the upper limb, being reversed
when this is not available. Under these conditions, kinesthetic
information becomes more relevant, and may contribute to the
rightward bias. This effect is not shown by left cerebellar
patients, possibly due to the disconnection between the left
cerebellum and the right hemisphere, involved in spatial
cognition.
Key Words: cerebellum, line bisection, visual control, spatial
cognition, spatial neglect
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 214-220 |
Numero di pagine | 7 |
Rivista | Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology |
Volume | 2008 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2008 |
Keywords
- CEREBELLUM
- LINE BISECTION
- SPATIAL COGNITION
- SPATIAL NEGLECT
- VISUAL CONTROL