Completion in visuo-spatial neglect: a case study.

Abstract

We present examples of copying and spontaneous drawing from a patient (P.B.) with hemianopia and severe neglect. The patient's drawings of butterflies show omission of the left side when the task is undertaken with the eyes open. By contrast, full butterflies are produced when P.B. draws with his eyes closed, and when he rotates the image to draw a horizontally-aligned figure. Unless specifically cued to the "neglected" side, the patient "believes" that his half-drawings are full drawings. Interpretations of the phenomena are provided in terms of normal perceptual completion.