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Anosognosia: examining the disconnection hypothesis |
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| Authors: | J. Adair R. Schwartz D. Na E. Fennell R. Gilmore K. Heilman |
| Affiliation: | Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. |
| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE—To test the hypothesis thatanosognosia for hemiparesis results from intrahemispheric disconnection. METHODS—Using right carotid barbiturate injectionas a model for anosognosia for hemiparesis, systematic attempts weremade to modify deficit awareness by providing the left hemisphere withexplicit information regarding left upper extremity function. RESULTS—Experimental interventions failed tomodify deficit awareness in 19 of 32 patients. In those patients whodiscovered their weakness, attempted movement of the weak limb seemsmore important than explicit observation of the extremity by the left hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS—The results fail tosupport Geschwind's disconnection hypothesis for anosognosia for hemiparesis. |
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