Anosognosia, when a patient is ignorant of a neurological or psychological impairment, is connected to brain network connections. Lesion network mapping was used to examine 267 lesion locations connected to visual loss or paralysis and determine if these abnormalities affect certain brain networks.
They found distinct network connections connected to visual and motor anosognosia and a common network for awareness of these impairments, focusing on the hippocampus and precuneus. These brain regions compare visual inputs to memory to detect a deficiency.
A new Annals of Neurology study related brain network connections to anosognosia, a disease where a person is oblivious of their neurological or psychological impairment. Lesion network mapping was utilized to assess if 267 lesion locations associated to visual loss and weakness, with and without awareness, were connected to certain brain networks.
Researchers found distinct network connections for visual and motor anosognosia and a common network for awareness of these impairments. The shared awareness network focused on the hippocampus and precuneus, memory centers, whereas the visual anosognosia network connected visual and metacognitive processing regions.
This study begins anosognosia and brain network research.
Despite being identified over 100 years ago, visual anosognosia has undergone little formal investigation, according to the study’s corresponding author, Brigham’s Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology and Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics investigator Isaiah Kletenik, MD.
He added that the study was the first to identify the role of the hippocampus in a systematic analysis of visual anosognosia and that memory-associated structures are needed to recognize a deficit by comparing visual inputs to prior memory and updating self-knowledge about performance compared to previous abilities.
The study’s results help cure anosognosia by revealing the brain networks involved. This understanding might lead to better therapies for anosognosia patients, helping them understand their disease and make better care decisions.
The Annals of Neurology study found brain network connections connected to anosognosia, a disease where a person is ignorant of their neurological or psychological impairment. The study’s results help cure anosognosia by revealing its neural networks. To understand and cure the illness, further research is needed.