Dissertation
Improving visual attention with transcranial magnetic stimulation in individuals with right parietal disorders due to stroke
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001061
Abstract
Right parietal lobe lesions can result in deficits to visual attention and disorders such as visuospatial neglect. Previous research has used low-frequency, inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the contralesional parietal lobe to improve visual attention based on the theory of hemispheric rivalry. However, few studies have examined the effect of high-frequency, excitatory rTMS in the ipsilesional parietal lobe, another method of improving visual attention and potentially restoring the balance of inhibition. The aim of the current study was to compare the effect of low- and high-frequency rTMS in both the right and left hemispheres to examine what parameters are effective in improving visual attention and to inform our understanding of the neural mechanism underlying visual attention. To examine this, 10 healthy individuals participated in five different rTMS conditions on different days. They completed a visual attention task (Posner Task) before and after stimulation. There was no significant difference in reaction times or accuracy for trials in the left visual field following any of the rTMS conditions. However, there was a trend in which reaction times were slower in the left visual field during the left low-frequency rTMS condition. Taken together, our results did not support the theory of hemispheric rivalry, possibly suggesting that this theory may not be able to fully explain the mechanism underlying visual attention in healthy individuals. Despite limitations such as small sample size and lack of a stroke group, the current study raises several important theoretical considerations, such as whether hemispheric rivalry may be an appropriate model for individuals with stroke but not healthy individuals, and whether it may apply to certain aspects of visuospatial neglect. Further research is needed to evaluate whether there is a different model that may better characterize the mechanism underlying visual attention, which could potentially improve our approach to rehabilitation of visuospatial neglect using rTMS.
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Details
- Title
- Improving visual attention with transcranial magnetic stimulation in individuals with right parietal disorders due to stroke
- Creators
- Ann-Marie A. Raphail
- Contributors
- Maria Teresa Schultheis (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 66 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991014695539704721