Linking hemispheric visuospatial functions to the awareness of visual change

Spotorno, S. and Faure, S. (2011) Linking hemispheric visuospatial functions to the awareness of visual change. Revue de Neuropsychologie, 3(1), pp. 23-32. (doi: 10.1684/nrp.2010.0160)

Abstract

We live in a world of multiple and continuous changes, which are decisive to give sense to our experience and organize our behavior. This review is devoted to the engagement of the cerebral hemispheres in the conscious perception of visual change when disturbances prevent the automatic capture of attention. The aim is to summarize and discuss this new line of investigation, which may provide substantial contribution, on one hand, to the understanding of attentional and memory processes involved in visual awareness and, on the other hand, to the specification of interhemispheric competences and interactions in a domain that is so crucial in our daily life. The theme is addressed in the broader context of the main axes of distinction between the specific left and right visuospatial functions, and taking into account the factors of inter-and intra-individual variability in the functional organization of the brain. Then, the different approaches for studying the lateral substrates of change perception are examined, showing a particular involvement of the right hemisphere which, however, is far from being understood in its various components and must be considered as emerging from dynamic interaction of neurocognitive networks that are distributed across the hemispheres. Limitations and potentials of these approaches are discussed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Spotorno, Dr Sara
• Authors: Spotorno, S., and Faure, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Revue de Neuropsychologie
• Publisher: John Libbey Eurotext
• ISSN: 2101-6739
• ISSN (Online): 2102-6025