The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Diagnostic value of deviation in figure copying for unilateral spatial neglect: analysis of performance with PC-based Behavioural inattention test (BIT)
Language	J
AuthorList	Rie Seki¹⁾³⁾, Sumio Ishiai²⁾³⁾, Yasumasa Koyama⁴⁾, Keiko Seki⁵⁾ and Tsuneo Okada¹⁾
Affiliation	¹⁾Department of Rehabilitation, Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital ²⁾Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sapporo Medical University of Medicine ³⁾Graduate School of Medical Studies, Sapporo Medical University ⁴⁾Tokyo Metropolitan Welfare for Disability Center, Tama Substation ⁵⁾Faculty of Health Science, Kobe University School of Medicine
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 24 (2), 146-154, 2008
Received	Jun 7, 2007
Accepted	Oct 10, 2007
Abstract	Copying of figures is a typical diagnostic tool for unilateral spatial neglect. In the figure and shape copying subtest of the Behavioural inattention test (BIT), patients' copies are scored on the basis of omissions of parts and left-right asymmetry. The deviation of the copies relative to the model figure(s) or on the paper is not considered in the scoring of BIT as a sign of neglect. We examined right-brain damaged patients with unilateral spatial neglect, those without neglect, and healthy control subjects with the use of the personal-computer based BIT. The analysis included only the copies that were scored as complete according to the BIT scoring criteria. The deviation of the center of the copied figure was measured from the horizontal midpoint of the model figure(s) using the bit-map data. The results indicated that in the copying of a star, a daisy, and a group of three geometric shapes, the mean location of the center of the copied figure(s) deviated more to the right side for the patients with neglect than for the patients without neglect and for the healthy controls. The mean deviation of the copied figure(s) was greater for the patients with severe neglect than those with mild neglect. Most of the patients with neglect showed deviations that went beyond the normal range or the mean plus two SDs of the deviation of the copied figure(s) of the healthy controls. The results indicate that when the copies are scored as "complete" according to the criteria of BIT, we should consider the presence of neglect for the rightward copying deviation more than 5.7 mm for a star, 4.7 mm for a daisy, and 4.4 mm for a group of three geometric figures. Also, we found following features in the copying of the patients with neglect. The mean location of the copies of a cube deviated slightly to the left side, which may have resulted from the order of drawing that started with the left upper vertex of the cube. The total width encompassing the three geometric shapes was smaller for the copies than for the model figures.
Keywords	unilateral spatial neglect, Behavioural inattention test (BIT), figure and shape copying test, deviation