IMPAIRMENT OF VISUOSPATIAL FUNCTION IN IDIOPATHIC SPASMODIC TORTICOLLIS

We studied visuospatial function in 15 patients with idiopathic spasmo dic torticollis (ST) and 15 age- and sex-matched controls. All subject s underwent a battery of visuospatial tests, assessing different funct ional components of spatial ability. The performance of ST patients on tasks of spatial perception did not significantly differ from that of normal subjects, but patients performed significantly worse on spatia l tasks requiring mental manipulation of personal space. This distinct pattern of visuospatial impairment may result from basal ganglia dysf unction.