Computerised Assessment of Visual Neglect Symptoms in Peripersonal Space

Computerised Assessment of Visual Neglect Symptoms in Peripersonal Space

Healthy subjects will undergo cathodal stimulation of the right posterior parietal Cortex (PPC) and assessment of neglect-like symptoms in the encircling monitor system (EMS) as well as in a standard clinical test (Test Battery for Attention Performance, TAP, Zimmermann & Fimm, 1993). The aim of this study is to investigate whether cathodal stimulation leads to poorer test performance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Younger subjects

  • aged between 18 and 35 years
  • ability to provide written informed consent
  • right-handedness

• Elderly subjects

  • aged between 50 and 85 years
  • ability to provide written informed consent
  • right-handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

- Exclusion criteria for both groups:

• serious psychiatric disorders (including depression, psychosis) in the past
• severe neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, dementia, stroke) in the past
• current severe medical disorder
• drugs, medication or alcohol abuse at the time of the study
• severe traumatic brain injury or tumor in the past
• operations on the brain, trepanations
• metallic implants in the head / neck area (except in the mouth), such as screws, splinter, artificial cochlea, electrodes
• severe skin diseases (like eczema) or very sensitive skin in the head region in the past
• epilepsy in the family
• current use of neuroleptics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, L-dopa, benzo-diazepines
• current pregnancy or lactation
• current claustrophobia