Balint syndrome is a neuropsychological syndrome that occurs when certain areas of the brain are damaged, usually in the parietal and parieto-occipital cortex. This syndrome is named after the Hungarian neurologist Rezső Bálint, who first described it in the early 20th century.
Balint syndrome includes several characteristic symptoms:
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Psychic paralysis of gaze (ocular apraxia): This is an impairment in the ability to make voluntary eye movements. Patients with this syndrome may have difficulty shifting their gaze from one object to another or fixing their gaze on a specific point.
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Impaired visuomotor coordination (optic ataxia): Similar to ocular apraxia, this is a disturbance of motor skills related to visual information. Patients may have difficulty performing precise movements, such as reaching for an object they are looking at.
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Simultanagnosia (simultagnosia): This is a condition in which the patient is unable to perceive several objects in the visual field at the same time. They may see each object separately but cannot combine them into an overall representation.
Balint syndrome usually occurs as a result of damage to the posterior parts of the brain that control visual and motor functions. This syndrome may result from stroke, a brain tumor, or other neurological disorders.
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