1,721,184 research outputs found
DISSOCIATION IN MAN OF EXTRA-PERSONAL AND PERSONAL SPACE REPRESENTATION
No full textpubb. in Italian journal of neurological scienc
Personal and extrapersonal space: a case of neglect dissociation
No full textDissociation between personal and extrapersonal neglect has rarely been observed in man. In this study we present a case of severe personal neglect in the absence of a deficit for extrapersonal space. An extensive neuropsychological assessment demonstrates the absence of cognitive impairments in visuo-spatial processing and confirms the selective presence of a severe representational deficit of the left side of the body
Unconventionally trendy: The pluralistic endeavour of Cortex into the human cognitive neurosciences
No full textThis viewpoint summarizes conversations between three generations of cognitive neuropsychologists about Cortex's contributions to our understanding of human cognition. We structured our conversation along a historical timeline and focused on selected key topics, that we also contributed to. Beginning with the advent of neuropsychology, and its focus on language disorders and hemispheric lateralisation, we quickly moved to the birth of Cortex in the 1960s pausing our conversion on spatial cognition and the critical window offered by unilateral neglect on its representational understanding. Realising that as time went by, the initial focus on impaired cognition expanded towards healthy individuals too, we noticed it coincided with the emergence of sophisticated imaging methods, and with them, the possibility to better draw the functional architecture of the brain across all known cognitive domains. In parallel, research on neuropsychological disorders had to include those implied by ageing, which rapidly became a critical topic due to the impressive increase of older individuals in Western societies. With the massive availability of data and shared information in the last decades, we observed a rise in open science practices and identified a clear future, yet to be fully unclosed, for a re-definition of neuropsychological profiles through big data in what is labelled as precision psychology. Across this journey, Cortex stood up for its unconventionally trendy, pluralistic and unbiased approach, which we hope will continue to be faithful to those core elements that are necessary to explain human cognition, which is, undoubtedly, among the most complex scientific subjects to tackl
Efficacy of neuropsychological rehabilitation on numerical and calculation abilities: A developmental case study
No full textPresent single case proves the effectiveness of a theory-based cognitive treatment on numerical and calculation abilities in developmental age. Both evaluation and treatment were designed on the bases of current models of numerical cognition, in particular Von Aster's developmental model. At the age of 7.4 years, HT was referred for a serious delay in the acquisition of numerical skills involving all numerical and calculation skills (written calculations, numerical knowledge, accuracy, rapidity). Following the rules of neuropsychological rehabilitation, HT was submitted to an early, intensive, HT-tailored treatment based on analogic representation of amount. After 12 months of treatment, HT showed statistically significant increasing in all the investigated variables: however, even if he correctly performed various numerical tasks, he remained significantly slower compared to his peers. Present case demonstrated the efficacy of theory-based, individually-tailored developmental dyscalculia. Early diagnosis and early intervention are urgently needed to get clinically significant change and to prevent behavioral and emotional symptoms
Mental imagery skills and topographical orientation in humans: A correlation study
No full textSeveral studies provide evidence that mental imagery is critical for human navigation. However, the contribution of different mental imagery abilities to the individuals' skill of using specific orientation strategies remains unclear. In the present study we assessed a variety of mental imagery skills and investigated their contribution in relationship with the selective individuals' ability of forming and using a mental representation of the environment, namely a cognitive map. Indeed, despite the use of alternative strategies that individuals may adopt while moving along the same well-known route, cognitive maps are critical for orientation since they allow individuals to reach any target location from any place in the environment. We found that the ability to form a cognitive map was related to the specific ability of performing mental rotations of simple geometrical shapes, and the ability to imaging ourselves moving on a map. Other imagery skills such as the ability to generate mental images from memory or the ability of mentally manipulate objects were not correlated with the individuals' performance in forming the cognitive map. Moreover, we revealed gender differences in forming a cognitive map, as well as in performing some of the mental imagery tests. We discuss these findings in order to shed more light on the specific role of mental imagery in human topographical orientation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Somatosensory stimulation improves imagery disorders in neglect
No full textA group of 9 right brain damaged patients with unilateral neglect performed a set of tasks involving mental imagery with and without a transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) to both sides of the neck. Results showed that TENS on the left side of the neck produced significant improvements of performances on the left side of mental representations of objects (drawing, shape comparison) as well as on left side of mental images of space (description of squares). The results suggest that the modification induced by TENS may affect the imagery systems involved in objects as well as in space representatio
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