SACCADIC REACTION-TIMES AND UNILATERAL SP ATIAL NEGLECT IN PARIETAL LESIONS

Latencies of lateral visually guided saccades were studied in 12 right handed patients who had unilateral ischaemic lesions involving the pa rietal lobe. The patients were divided into two groups according to th e right ol left side of the lesions. The severity of unilateral spatia l neglect was assessed. In right parietal lesions, the asymmetry of la tencies was related to the presence of unilateral spa tial neglect and correlated with ist severity. According to the stimulus condition use d, we suggest that the asymmetry of latency is explained in tel ms of an inability to disengage.