Neurale Grundlagen zeitlicher und räumlicher Aufmerksamkeitsprozesse für komplexe, objektbezogene Handlungen
The objective of this doctoral thesis is to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying spatial and temporal attention for complex, objectrelated actions as well as their role for development of apraxic symptoms after unilateral brain damage. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, using fMRT, brain regions responsible for processing of temporal and spatial attention regarding complex actions have been identified. The results show that focussing attention towards temporal aspects of complex actions leads to significant activation of the left cingulate motor area (CMA). Assessing the spatial configuration of complex actions differentially increased neural activity in the right posterior parietal cortex. Furthermore, a significant interaction of ERROR and STIMULUS was revealed for the right inferior parietal cortex. In the second experiment the experimental design was used as a clinical test of patients with unilateral brain lesions. Four groups of patients were included in this study: Patients with left-sided brain lesion with and without apraxia, and patients with right-sided brain lesion with and without neglect. While patients with right- and left-sided brain damage demonstrated deficits for processing the spatial configuration of pantomime actions, a specific deficit was found for patients with left-sided brain damage in assessing temporal organisation of pantomime actions. The results of these studies indicate a differential role of both hemispheres for processing of spatial and temporal attention in terms of complex, objectrelated actions. Deficits of these cognitive functions might explain apraxic errors of patients with unilateral brain damage and shall be used in order to underline regeneration of temporal and spatial attention within rehabilitation of these patients.
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/610, Medizin, Aufmerksamkeit, Apraxie, Schlaganfall, Motorik, Zeitliche Aufmerksankeit, räumliche Aufmerksamkeit, fMRT, Temporal attention, spatial attention
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