Balint syndrome and spatial functions of the parietal lobe

• Published in: Revue neurologique Vol. 168; no. 10; pp. 741 - 753
• Main Authors: Biotti, D, Pisella, L, Vighetto, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-10-2012
• Subjects: Agnosia - complications; Agnosia - diagnosis; Agnosia - physiopathology; Apraxias - complications; Apraxias - diagnosis; Apraxias - physiopathology; Ataxia - complications; Ataxia - diagnosis; Ataxia - physiopathology; Eye Diseases - complications; Eye Diseases - diagnosis; Eye Diseases - physiopathology; Humans; Models, Biological; Parietal Lobe - physiopathology; Space Perception - physiology; Syndrome; Visual Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 0035-3787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2012.08.003

Balint's syndrome corresponds to the combination of optic ataxia, simultanagnosia and gaze apraxia. It generally results from a bilateral dysfunction of the posterior parietal cortex. Since its early descriptions the syndrome has been subject to many interpretations and controversies. In this article we will reconsider the current concept of Balint's syndrome. A first part will develop the clinical aspects, causes, description of symptoms, examination techniques and neuroanatomical correlations. In a second part, we will discuss how this syndrome can be included in the background of visual neurosciences, particularly through a visual attentional aspect. We will discuss the phenomenon of remapping and some recent data that may contribute to explain the pathophysiology of manifestations as optic ataxia, simultanagnosia or gaze apraxia.