Ipsilateral neglect during intracarotid amobarbital test

Neurology. 1998 Jul;51(1):276-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.51.1.276.

Abstract

Neglect usually occurs in the space contralateral to brain injury. Recent studies describe ipsilateral neglect (IN) whereby patients with right hemisphere injury misbisect lines to the left of midpoint. IN usually develops after contralateral neglect (CN) resolves. We observed whether IN occurs during intracarotid amobarbital infusion. After clinical testing but before resolution of barbiturate effect, 20 right-handed subjects bisected lines until baseline performance returned. More than half (12 of 20) showed transient CN. IN occurred in 40% (8 of 20) of patients, always during the recovery stage of anesthesia, and most frequently followed initial CN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amobarbital / administration & dosage*
  • Attention / drug effects*
  • Carotid Arteries
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / drug effects
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage*
  • Injections, Intra-Arterial
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Space Perception / drug effects*

Substances

  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Amobarbital