Visuospatial and other "right-hemispheric" functions after long recovery periods in left-hemispherectomized subjects.

摘要: Abstract Two subjects who had infantile brain damage and left hemispherectomies at the ages of 17 18 yr are assessed after 28 16 recovery periods. Both have inact language verbal memory abilities. However, on functions normally mediated predominantly by right hemisphere, including nonverbal memory, higher cognitive visuospatial skills, complex extrapersonal orientation ability, they severely impaired. Simple perceptual abilities, emotional expression, face recognition, also “right-hemispheric” functions, normal. It is postulated that if isolated in infancy, has potential to take over most functions. The pattern intact impaired abilities shown these allows a hierarchy functionally important be constructed. solitary hemisphere those essential for independent survival, not represented least required.