Attention
Attention deficit disorders are very common in both neurological and psychiatric patients and affect all areas of life.
While we assume a uniform concept in everyday life and speak of „attention“, science distinguishes between different sub-functions, such as alertness, sustained attention and selective attention. Depending on the disease or where the damage is located in the brain, different attentional functions may be disturbed and require specific training.
While we assume a uniform concept in everyday life and speak of „attention“, science distinguishes between different sub-functions, such as alertness, sustained attention and selective attention. Depending on the disease or where the damage is located in the brain, different attentional functions may be disturbed and require specific training.
Memory
Impairments of memory occur both after damage to the brain and in the context of psychiatric illnesses.
Different forms of memory (e.g., working, short-term, long-term memory) are distinguished.In most cases, the absorption and permanent storage of new information is disturbed, while the recall of already stored information remains intact. For affected patients, memory deficits often have serious consequences. These can be reduced by training, but above all by teaching compensatory strategies.
Different forms of memory (e.g., working, short-term, long-term memory) are distinguished.In most cases, the absorption and permanent storage of new information is disturbed, while the recall of already stored information remains intact. For affected patients, memory deficits often have serious consequences. These can be reduced by training, but above all by teaching compensatory strategies.
Executive Function
Executive Functions are a collective term for various higher-order mental processes associated with action planning or goal-directed behaviour.
Clients with Executive function deficits show difficulties in planning and following rules, often have little sense of social norms and problems in suppressing unwanted behaviour. Executive Functions are closely linked to the frontal lobe. Patients with neurological diseases or injuries of the frontal lobe as well as psychiatric patients (e.g., schizophrenia) are likely to show impairments in executive functions.
Clients with Executive function deficits show difficulties in planning and following rules, often have little sense of social norms and problems in suppressing unwanted behaviour. Executive Functions are closely linked to the frontal lobe. Patients with neurological diseases or injuries of the frontal lobe as well as psychiatric patients (e.g., schizophrenia) are likely to show impairments in executive functions.
Visual field & Neglect
Visual field defects and Neglect are common after a stroke or hypoxic brain damage.
Visual information is transmitted from the eye via the optic nerve and via optic radiation to the occipital lobe for processing. If there is damage to these neural pathways, the required visual information no longer arrives there and cannot be processed – this results in a loss of Visual field. In the case of Neglect, on the other hand, visual information from higher areas of the brain is no longer processed further, whereupon attention on half of the space affected is only possible to a limited extent. Those affected first and foremost have difficulties in reading and visual orientation. Targeted training can significantly reduce the impact on everyday life
Visual information is transmitted from the eye via the optic nerve and via optic radiation to the occipital lobe for processing. If there is damage to these neural pathways, the required visual information no longer arrives there and cannot be processed – this results in a loss of Visual field. In the case of Neglect, on the other hand, visual information from higher areas of the brain is no longer processed further, whereupon attention on half of the space affected is only possible to a limited extent. Those affected first and foremost have difficulties in reading and visual orientation. Targeted training can significantly reduce the impact on everyday life
Visuo-Motor
Human movements are based on the coordination of various motor, visual and proprioceptive systems.
Numerous „fine motor“ activities in everyday life, such as using cutlery or tools depend on the exact coordination of eyes, head and hands. During the motor action, visual control plays an essential role - especially in the learning stage of movement sequences. Brain damage to the motor or sensory area, but also to the spatial or visual system, can result in serious visuo-motor problems.
Numerous „fine motor“ activities in everyday life, such as using cutlery or tools depend on the exact coordination of eyes, head and hands. During the motor action, visual control plays an essential role - especially in the learning stage of movement sequences. Brain damage to the motor or sensory area, but also to the spatial or visual system, can result in serious visuo-motor problems.
