Allocentric Neglect
Pronunciation: al-oh-SEN-trik
A form of spatial neglect where patients ignore the left side of individual objects regardless of their position in space.
Full Definition
Allocentric neglect is a specific subtype of spatial neglect syndrome where patients consistently ignore or fail to attend to the left side of objects themselves, independent of the object's location relative to the patient's body. This differs from egocentric neglect, where patients ignore stimuli on their left side in body-centered coordinates. Patients with allocentric neglect might read only the right half of words, copy only the right side of drawings, or eat only the right side of food on their plate, even when these items are positioned on their right side. This condition typically results from right parietal lobe damage and requires specific assessment tools and therapeutic interventions that address object-centered attention deficits.
Usage
Usage note: Critical to distinguish from egocentric neglect for appropriate intervention planning.
In Context
- "The patient demonstrated allocentric neglect by consistently reading only the right half of words during text comprehension tasks." — Neuropsychological evaluation
- "Allocentric neglect was evident in drawing tasks where the patient omitted left-sided details regardless of object positioning." — Occupational therapy assessment