Visual extinction

Visual extinction is a neurological disorder that occurs when a person is unable to perceive a stimulus in the presence of another stimulus. This condition is often associated with strokes and brain injury.

Overview

Visual extinction is a phenomenon that occurs when a person is unable to perceive a stimulus in the presence of another stimulus. This is often seen in patients who have suffered a stroke or a brain injury. The person may be able to perceive each stimulus individually, but when they are presented together, the person may only be able to perceive one of them.

Causes

Visual extinction is often caused by damage to the parietal lobe of the brain. This can occur as a result of a stroke or a brain injury. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information, including visual stimuli. When this area of the brain is damaged, it can lead to a variety of sensory deficits, including visual extinction.

Symptoms

The main symptom of visual extinction is the inability to perceive a stimulus when it is presented alongside another stimulus. This can occur in any sensory modality, but it is most commonly seen in the visual domain. For example, a person with visual extinction may be able to see a car on the left side of the road, but if a car is also present on the right side of the road, they may only be able to perceive the car on the left.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of visual extinction is typically made through a series of neurological tests. These tests may include visual field testing, in which the person's field of vision is tested to determine if there are any areas where they cannot perceive visual stimuli. Other tests may include sensory testing, in which the person's ability to perceive different types of sensory stimuli is tested.

Treatment

Treatment for visual extinction typically involves rehabilitation therapy. This may include visual training exercises to help the person improve their ability to perceive multiple stimuli at once. In some cases, medication may also be used to help manage the symptoms of visual extinction.

See also

• Neglect syndrome
• Hemianopsia
• Agnosia

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