Assessing and restoring spatial biases after stroke

In daily life, we are exposed to a continuous stream of information. Since our processing capacity is limited, we prioritize the processing of information important to our survival. Brain damage due to stroke can disrupt the ability to selectively attend events at the side of space contralateral to the lesioned hemisphere. There is no effective treatment for this condition, called ‘hemispatial neglect’, which severely restricts daily functioning. In this project, we will set up a diagnostic tool for stroke patients, which is able to characterize the spatial distribution of attention deficits using a model-based approach. We will also assess whether multisensory stimulation can modulate attention in neglect patients. The project is expected to provide tools to diagnose and alleviate attention deficits in patients with neglect.

Keywords:stroke

Disciplines:Animal experimental and comparative psychology, Applied psychology, Human experimental psychology