Result of Clinical Application of Cognitive Therapeutic Exercises for Hemiplegic Patients with Unilateral Spatial Neglect

We noted some remediation of symptoms as a result of implementing rehabilitation based on cognitive therapeutic exercise for patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke in whom unilateral spatial neglect remained about 6 months after onset. At the start of rehabilitation, in desk-top tests there were cancellation results for only about 1/3 of the stars on the right side in star cancellation tasks, although after 6 weeks the results had improved to the extent that only part of the lower left was overlooked. Accordingly, there were also inprovements in terms of movement, i.e. collision with objects on the left and overlooking of left turns during wheelchair operation which were initially seen were halted. Based on these results, "training of directed attention", with respect to unilateral spatial neglect, as part of spatial perception was achieved by providing rehabilitation focusing on somatosensory information that took into account cognitive processes (sensory-attention-memory- decision-making-language). The results suggest that this rehabilitation may evoke awareness with respect to the neglected side of the body.