Aftereffects to Prism Exposure without Adaptation: A Single Case Study

Brain Sciences

Federica Albini¹  Anna Salvatore¹  Nadia Bolognini¹  Alberto Pisoni¹  Giuseppe Vallar¹  Carlotta Casati²  Stefania Bianchi Marzoli³  Elena Calzolari⁴  Antonella Castellano⁵  Andrea Falini⁵  Sofia Allegra Crespi⁵  Claudia Godi⁵ 

[1] Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;Experimental Laboratory of Research in Clinical Neuropsychology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20155 Milano, Italy;Laboratory of Neuro-Ophthalmology and Ocular Electrophysiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20155 Milano, Italy;Neuro-Otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK;Neuroradiology Unit and CERMAC, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milano, Italy;

关键词: prism adaptation;    hemianopsia;    multisensory integration;    single case study;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci12040480

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Visuo-motor adaptation to optical prisms (Prism Adaptation, PA), displacing the visual scene laterally, is a behavioral method used for the experimental investigation of visuomotor plasticity, and, in clinical settings, for temporarily ameliorating and rehabilitating unilateral spatial neglect. This study investigated the building up of PA, and the presence of the typically occurring subsequent Aftereffects (AEs) in a brain-damaged patient (TMA), suffering from apperceptive agnosia and a right visual half-field defect, with bilateral atrophy of the parieto-occipital cortices, regions involved in PA and AEs. Base-Right prisms and control neutral lenses were used. PA was achieved by repeated pointing movements toward three types of stimuli: visual, auditory, and bimodal audio-visual. The presence and the magnitude of AEs were assessed by proprioceptive, visual, visuo-proprioceptive, and auditory-proprioceptive straight-ahead pointing tasks. The patient’s brain connectivity was investigated by Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Unlike control participants, TMA did not show any adaptation to prism exposure, but her AEs were largely preserved. These findings indicate that AEs may occur even in the absence of PA, as indexed by the reduction of the pointing error, showing a dissociation between the classical measures of PA and AEs. In the PA process, error reduction, and its feedback, may be less central to the building up of AEs, than the sensorimotor pointing activity per se.

【 授权许可】

Unknown