Disorders of Body Scheme after Stroke

Background and purpose. The aim of this study was to determine if brain lesions located in the parieto-temporo-occipital area (PTO) are associated with such disorders of body scheme as autotopagnosia, finger agnosia and right-left disorientation, if these disorders result from damage to the left or right brain hemisphere, and if other cognitive disorders may be influencing test results in studies of body scheme disorders. Material and methods. Two groups were examined: 16 patients after stroke in the right or left PTO and a control group consisting of 11 persons with no brain lesions. In three clinical trials three aspects of body scheme were tested: localizing body parts, finger gnosia, and right-left orientation. Other neuropsychological methods were used to test visual gnosia, praxia, visuospatial abilities, language, attention and memory. Results were compared from the experimental and control groups, and from two subgroups of patients with leftor right-sided brain lesions. Results. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of finger gnosia. Poor performance was observed particularly among patients with right hemisphere lesions. In the experimental group there were also other cognitive disorders, such as visual agnosia, constructional apraxia and visuospatial disorders. No significant correlation was found in the examined population between the level of these disturbances and body scheme disorders. Conclusions. The finger agnosia observed in this population of patients oc cured more frequently after lesions to the right brain hemisphere. Autotopagnosia and finger agnosia seem to be independent of coexisting cognitive disorders.