Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Visual — Spatial Functioning

  • Chapter
Practitioner’s Guide to Clinical Neuropsychology

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Neuropsychology ((CINP))

  • 301 Accesses

Abstract

Visual-spatial functioning, as used in this book, is a general term referring to visuoperceptual, visuospatial, or visuoconstructive abilities. The visual system may be divided into a number of areas of functioning and anatomically separate subsystems. Visual object perception or pattern recognition involves the identification of spatial collections of visual qualities. Impairment is termed visual agnosia. The neuroanatomical substrate of object recognition appears to involve the posterior temporal or inferotemporal cortex (Benton, 1985; Ungerleider & Mishkin, 1982). Other forms of recognition include recognition of familiar faces (impairment is termed prosopagnosia) and recognition of unfamiliar faces. A review of the different varieties of visual agnosia may be found in Visual Agnosia (Farah, 1990). Visual synthesis is the ability to grasp the relationships between simultaneously presented stimuli and integrate them into a meaningful whole (Benton, 1985). Visuospatial abilities involve the localization of objects or the self in space. The neuroanatomical substrate of the ability to localize objects appears to involve the posterior parietal cortex (Benton, 1985; Ungerleider & Mishkin, 1982). Subcategories of visuospatial abilities include the ability to localize points in space and to judge direction, distance, and depth. Topographical orientation is the ability to find one’s way around in or to describe various environments, e.g., home, neighborhood, or city. Visuoconstructive ability or constructional praxis is the ability to put parts together to form a single object (Benton, 1985). Successful performance of this activity requires accurate perception of the parts and their spatial relationships and unimpaired organization and performance of the motor activities necessary to construct the object (Benton, 1985).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Akshoomoff-Haist, N. A., Delis, D. C., & Kiefner, M. G. (1989). Block constructions of alcoholic and unilateral brain damaged patients: A test of the right hemisphere vulnerability hypothesis of alcoholism. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 4, 275–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Albert, M. L. (1973). A simple test of visual neglect. Neurology, 23, 658–664.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arena R. & Gaitti G. 1978. Constructional apraxia and visuoperceptive disabilities in relation to laterality of cerebral lesions. Cortex 14 463–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, L. (1938). Instructions for the use of Visual Motor Gestalt Test. New York: American Orthopsychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L. (1968). Differential behavioral effects in frontal lobe disease. Neuropsychologia, 6, 53–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L. (1974). Revised Visual Retention Test (4th ed.). New York: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L. (1985). Perceptual and spatial disorders. In K. Heilman & E. Valenstein (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology (2nd ed.) (pp. 151–185). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L., & Fogel, M. L. (1962). Three-dimensional constructional praxis: A clinical test. Archives of Neurology, 7, 34

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L., Hannay, H. J., & Varney, N. R. (1975). Visual perception of line direction in patients with unilateral brain disease. Neurology, 25, 907–910.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L., Varney, N. R., & Hamsher, K. (1978). Visuospatial judgment: A clinical test. Archives of Neurology, 35, 364–367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benton, A. L., Hamsher, K., Varney, N. R., & Spreen, O. (1983). Contributions to neuropsychological assessment: A clinical manual. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigler, E. D., & Ehrfurth, J. W. (1980). Critical limitations of the Bender Gestalt Test in clinical neuropsychology: Response to Lacks. Clinical Neuropsychology, 2, 88–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, L. M. (1982). Constructional strategies on complex figure drawings after unilateral brain damage. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology,4, 51–58.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Black, F. W., & Strub, R. L. (1976). Constructional apraxia in patients with discrete missile wounds of the brain. Cortex, 12, 212–220.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boll, T. J., & Reitan, R. M. (1973). Effect of age on performance of the Trail Making Test. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 36, 691–694.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, R. A. (1985). Normative data on selected neuropsychological measures from a nonclinical sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41, 651–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, J. L. (1981). A validity study of the Hooper Visual Organization Test. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 15–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, D. N., & Aughton, M. E. (1979). Psychological consequences of blunt head injury. International Rehabilitation Medicine, 1, 160–165.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. C., & Oxbury, J. M. (1976). Recovery from unilateral spatial neglect? Cortex, 12, 303–312.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canter, A. (1966). A background interference procedure to increase sensitivity of the Bender-Gestalt test to organic brain disorders. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 30, 91–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canter, A. (1976). The Canter Interference Procedure for the Bender-Gestalt Test: Manual for administration, scoring, and interpretation. Nashville: Counselor Recordings and Tests.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colombo, A., DeRenzi, E., & Faglioni, P. (1976). The occurrence of visual neglect in patients with unilateral cerebral disease. Cortex, 12, 221–231.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, J. D., & Hinkeldey, N. S. (1987). Relationships between parts A and B of the Trail Making Test. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 402–409.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, L. D., & Vaughan, H. G. (1962). Performance of patients with lateralized cerebral lesions. 1. Verbal and perceptual tests. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 132, 162–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies A. 1968. The influence of age on Trail Making Test performance. Journal of Clinical Psychology 24 96–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney, R. C. (1982). Screening for organicity: The problem of subtle neuropsychological deficit and diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38, 843–846.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denman, S. B. (1984). Denman Neuropsychology Memory Scale. Privately published: Sidney B. Denman, Ph.D., 1040 Fort Sumter Drive, Charleston, SC 29412.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeRenzi, E., & Faglioni, P. (1965). The comparative efficiency of intelligence and vigilance tests in detecting hemispheric cerebral damage. Cortex, 1, 410–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farah, M. J. (1990). Visual agnosia: Disorders of object recognition and what they tell us about normal vision. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitz, A. G., Conrad, P. M., Horn, D. L., Sarff, P. L., & Majovski, L. V. (1992). Hooper Visual Organization Test performance in lateralized brain injury. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 7, 243–250.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franzen, M. (1989). Reliability and validity in neuropsychological assessment. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fromm-Auch, D., & Yeudall, L. T. (1983). Normative data for the Halstead-Reitan tests. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 5, 221–238.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gainotti, G., D’Erme, P., Villa, G., & Caltagirone, C. (1986). Focal brain lesions and intelligence: A study of a new version of Raven’s Coloured Matrices. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 8, 37–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garron, D. C., & Cheifetz, D. I. (1965). Comment on “Bender Gestalt discernment of organic pathology.” Psychological Bulletin, 63, 197–200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golden, C. J., Purisch, A. D., & Hammeke, T. A. (1985). Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery: Forms I and II. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heaton, R. K., Baade, L. E., & Johnson, K. L. (1978). Neuropsychological test results associated with psychiatric disorders in adults. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 141–162.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heaton, R. K., Grant, I., & Matthews, C. G. (1991). Comprehensive norms for an expanded Halstead-Reitan Battery: Demographic corrections, research findings, and clinical applications. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper, H. E. (1958). The Hooper Visual Organization Test manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutt, M. L. (1969). The Hutt adaptation of the Bender-Gestalt Test (2nd ed.). New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, E., Deborah, F., Morris, R., & Delis, D. C. (1991). WAIS-R NI: Manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, K. J. (1981). Age effects on Trail Making Test performance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 52, 671–675.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronfol, Z., Hamsher, K., Digre, K., & Waziri, R. (1978). Depression and hemispheric functions: Changes associated with unilateral ECT. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 560–567.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lacks, P. (1984).Bender Gestalt screening for brain dysfunction. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacks, P., & Storandt, M. (1982). Bender Gestalt performance of normal older adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38, 624–627.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, H. S., & Benton, A. L. (1977). Facial recognition in “pseudoneurological” patients. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 164, 135–138.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, H. S., Grossman, R. G., & Kelly, P. J. (1977). Impairment of facial recognition after closed head injuries of varying severity. Cortex, 13, 119–130.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lezak, M. (1983). Neuropsychological assessment (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marley, L. M. (1982). Organic brain pathology and the Bender-Gestalt Test: A differential diagnostic scoring system. New York: Gruine & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, C. F., & Ganzler, H. (1964). Adult norms for the Shipley Institute of Living Scale and Hooper Visual Organization Test based on age and education. Journal of Gerontology, 19, 419–424.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McFie, J. (1975). Assessment of organic intellectual impairment. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orme, J. E. (1966). Hypothetically true norms for the Progressive Matrices Test. Human Development, 9, 222–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osterrieth, P. A. (1944). Le test de copy d’une figure complexe. Archives de Psychologie, 30, 206–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, S. M. (1985). The Advanced Progressive Matrices: Normative data for an American university population and an examination of the relationship with Spearman’s g. Journal of Experimental Education, 54, 95–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck, E. A., Stephens, V., & Martelli, M. F. (1987). A descriptive summary of essential neuropsychological tests. In L. C. Hartlage, M. J. Asken, & J. L. Hornsby (Eds.), Essentials ofneuropsychological assessment (pp. 213–228). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J. C., & Summers, B. (1986). Manual for Raven’s Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales (Research Supplement No. 3). London: H. K. Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J. C., Court, J. H., & Raven, J. (1983). Manual for Raven’s Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales (Section 3)—Standard Progressive Matrices (1983 edition). London: H. K. Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J. C., Court, J. H., & Raven, J. (1986). Manual for Raven’s Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales (Section 2)—Coloured Progressive Matrices (1986 edition, with U.S. norms). London: K. Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitan, R. M. (1958). Validity of the Trail Making Test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 8, 271–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitan, R. M., & Wolfson, D. (1993). The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery: Theory and clinical interpretation (2nd ed.). Tucson: Neuropsychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. M. (1988). Assessment of children (3rd ed.). San Diego: Jerome M. Sattler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, D. R. (1960). A factor analysis of the Picture Completion items of the WAIS. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 16, 146–149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schenkenberg, T., Bradford, D. C., & Ajax, E. T. (1980). Line bisection and unilateral visual neglect in patients with neurologic impairment. Neurology, 30, 509–517.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shipley, W. C. (1967). Shipley Institute of Living Scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spreen, O., & Strauss, E. (1991). A compendium of neuropsychological tests: Administration, norms, and commentary. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuss, D. T., Stethem, L. L., & Poirier, C. A. (1987). Comparison of three tests of attention and rapid information processing across six age groups. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1, 139–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ungerleider, L. G., & Mishkin, M. (1982). Two cortical visual systems. In D. J. Ingle, M. A. Goodale, & R. J. W. Mansfield (Eds.), Analysis of visual behavior (pp. 549–586). ambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varney, N. R. (1981). Letter recognition and visual form discrimination in aphasic alexia. Neuropsychologia, 19, 795–800.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visser, R. S. H. (1980). Manual of the complex figure test CFT. SWETS Test Services, 347b Heereweg, 2161 Ca Lisse, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, R. G. (1956). The Revised Hooper Visual Organization Test as a measure of brain damage. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 12, 387–388.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, R. G. (1957). Schizophrenia and cortical involvement. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 125, 226–228.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, P. L. (1977). Visual organization ability in brain-damaged adults. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 45, 723–728.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warrington, E. K., James, M., & Maciejewski, C. (1986). The WAIS as a lateralising and localising diagnostic instrument: A study of 656 patients with unilateral cerebral lesions. Neuropsychologia, 24, 223–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1981). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised. New York: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western Psychological Services (1983). Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT): Manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, C. N., & Fishman, D. B. (1970). Psychological deficit in schizophrenia and brain damage. Annual Review of Psychology, 21, 113–154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Robert M. Anderson Jr.

Authors
  1. Robert M. Anderson Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Anderson, R.M. (1994). Visual — Spatial Functioning. In: Practitioner’s Guide to Clinical Neuropsychology. Critical Issues in Neuropsychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2480-9_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2480-9_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44616-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2480-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation