After suffering a stroke, a patient can see objects anywhere in front of him but pays attention only to objects in his right field of vision. When asked to describe these objects, he has difficulty judging their size and distance. What part of the brain was likely damaged by the stroke?
a. The left frontal lobe
b. The right frontal lobe
c. The right parietal lobe
d. The corpus callosum

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the symptoms: The patient can see objects but only pays attention to those in the right field of vision, and has difficulty judging size and distance.
2. Recognize that attention and spatial awareness are typically associated with the parietal lobe, which is responsible for integrating sensory information and spatial navigation.
3. Consider the lateralization of brain functions: The right parietal lobe is often involved in attention and spatial awareness for the left field of vision.
4. Analyze the symptoms in relation to brain function: Since the patient neglects the left field of vision and has spatial judgment issues, this suggests damage to the right parietal lobe.
5. Conclude that the most likely damaged area is the right parietal lobe, as it aligns with the symptoms of neglecting the left field of vision and difficulty with spatial judgment.

Key Concepts

Parietal Lobe Function

The parietal lobe is crucial for processing sensory information and spatial awareness. It helps integrate visual input with spatial perception, allowing individuals to judge size, distance, and the position of objects. Damage to the parietal lobe can lead to difficulties in spatial attention and perception, which aligns with the symptoms described in the question.

Hemispatial Neglect

Hemispatial neglect is a condition often resulting from damage to the right parietal lobe, where a person fails to attend to one side of their visual field, typically the left. This condition explains why the patient only pays attention to objects in the right field of vision, as the right parietal lobe is responsible for processing the left visual field.

Stroke and Brain Damage

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted, leading to cell death and potential loss of function in the affected area. Depending on the location of the stroke, different cognitive and sensory functions can be impaired. In this case, the symptoms suggest damage to the right parietal lobe, affecting spatial awareness and attention.