Abstract
Simultanagnosia is a disorder of visual attention that leaves a patient's world unglued: scenes and objects are perceived in a piecemeal manner. It is generally agreed that simultanagnosia is related to an impairment of attention, but it is unclear whether this impairment is object- or space-based in nature. We first consider the findings that support a concept of simultanagnosia as deficit of object-based attention. We then examine the evidence suggesting that simultanagnosia results from damage to a space-based attentional system, and in particular a model of simultanagnosia as a narrowed spatial window of attention. We ask whether seemingly objectbased deficits can be explained by space-based mechanisms, and consider the evidence that object processing influences spatial deficits in this condition. Finally, we discuss limitations of a space-based attentional explanation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
Issue number | APR 2013 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Bálint syndrome
- Object-based attention
- Simultanagnosia
- Space-based attention
- Vision