Balint's syndrome

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Balint's syndrome, identified by Rezső (Rudolf) Bálint in 1909, is characterized by optic ataxia (the inability to accurately reach for objects), optic apraxia (the inability to voluntarily guide eye movements/ change to a new location of visual fixation), and simultanagnosia (the inability to perceive more than one object at a time, even when in the same place). Balint's syndrome is the result of visual binding deficits.

[edit] Neuroanatomical evidence

Balint's syndrome has been found in patients with bilateral damage to the posterior parietal cortex. The primary cause of the damage and the syndrome can originate from multiple strokes, Alzheimer's disease, intracranial tumors, or brain injury. This syndrome is caused by damage to the posterior superior watershed areas (Brodmann's areas 19 and 7). Balint's Syndrome has only recently been reported in children (Gillen and Dutton, 2003). In children this syndrome results in a variety of occupational difficulties, but most notably difficulties in schoolwork, especially reading. Treatment for Balint's syndrome usually takes advantage of an adaptive functional approach, where the individual's strengths are utilized in order to address his or her difficulties.

[edit] References

Damasio, A.R. Disorders of complex visual processing: agnosia, achromatopsia, Balint's syndrome, and related difficulties of orientation and construction. In: M.M. Mesulam, Editor, Principles of Behavioral Neurology, Davis, Philadelphia (1985).

Gillen, J.A. and Dutton, G.N. (2003). Balint's syndrome in a 10-year-old male. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 45:349-32.