Right-Sided Neglect in a Left-Hander: Evidence for Reversed Hemispheric Specialization of Attention Capacity

Authors:

  • Nina F. Dronkers

  • Robert T. Knight

Date: 1988

PubMed: 2739895

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Abstract:

Severe hemi-spatial neglect, anosognosia, contralateral hypokinesia, aprosodia, and visual-spatial constructive difficulties--typically seen in right-handers with right hemisphere lesions--were observed in a left-handed patient with an acute left frontal cortical and subcortical infarct. There was no evidence of accompanying aphasia and the neglect syndrome gradually resolved over a 2-week period. The assumption by the left hemisphere of a classic right hemisphere attention, visuo-spatial and prosodic superiority may represent a case of reversed hemispheric specialization.