In brain injury-related neglect, which visual field is more commonly neglected?

In brain injury-related neglect, which visual field is more commonly neglected?

• A. Right hemifield
• B. Left hemifield
• C. Both equally
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

Neglect after brain injury is an attentional deficit, not a basic sensory loss. The commonly observed pattern is contralesional neglect—attention fails for the side opposite the brain lesion. The vast majority of cases involve damage to the right hemisphere, especially the right parietal region, which disrupts awareness of the left side of space. Because the right hemisphere naturally helps attend to both sides, its impairment leaves a person largely unaware of stimuli on the left, even though their eyes and retina are functioning normally. So the left visual field is the side most often neglected. In some scenarios, neglect can involve both sides or be milder on the right, but the typical presentation is left-field neglect following right-hemisphere damage.

Neglect after brain injury is an attentional deficit, not a basic sensory loss. The commonly observed pattern is contralesional neglect—attention fails for the side opposite the brain lesion. The vast majority of cases involve damage to the right hemisphere, especially the right parietal region, which disrupts awareness of the left side of space. Because the right hemisphere naturally helps attend to both sides, its impairment leaves a person largely unaware of stimuli on the left, even though their eyes and retina are functioning normally. So the left visual field is the side most often neglected. In some scenarios, neglect can involve both sides or be milder on the right, but the typical presentation is left-field neglect following right-hemisphere damage.