Journal

The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

[Vol.27 No.4 contents]
Japanese/English

Full Text of this Article
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ArticleTitle Anosognosia for hemiplegia/hemiparesis
Language J
AuthorList Hisaaki Ota1), Sumio Ishiai2)
Affiliation 1)Division of Rehabilitation, Sapporo Medical University Hospital
2)Department of Rehabilitation, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine
Publication Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 27 (4), 289-296, 2011
Received
Accepted
Abstract Studies of anosognosia for hemiplegia/hemiparesis (AHP/P) are reviewed and summarized in terms of evaluation, mechanism of emergence, and responsible lesion. Evaluation of AHP/P includes estimating patient's present physical ability by him or herself and asking patients to perform specific behavioral tasks, in addition to interviewing patients with structured questions. Each of those evaluations may detect different characteristics of AHP/P. Regarding to mechanism of emergence of AHP/P, a study recently revealed that the summation of specific neurological and neuropsychological symptoms contributes to appearance of AHP/P. As a different idea, computational model is put forward to explain patients' non-veridical awareness that the hemiplegic limb had moved. Recent studies of lesion analysis emphasize right insula is crucial area to emerge AHP/P. Each patient with AHP/P, however, has relatively large but not focal lesion. It is, therefore, plausible to interpret that extended damage involving insula may lead to emerge of AHP/P symptom.
Keywords anosognosia for hemiplegia/hemiparesis, evaluation, mechanism of emergence, responsible lesion, Insula

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