Which statement about right-hemisphere damage and attention is true?

• A. Visuospatial neglect and left-space inattention
• B. Enhanced left-sided attention
• C. Improved memory
• D. Aphasia only a language impairment

Answer: (A)

Right-hemisphere damage often disrupts attention to the left side of space, leading to visuospatial neglect. The right hemisphere plays a dominant role in spatial attention and can monitor both sides, but it’s especially crucial for the left side. When damaged, people commonly ignore stimuli on the left, even though their basic vision remains intact—this is left-space inattention. This neglect is a hallmark of right parietal or temporoparietal injury and can affect awareness of objects, self, and events on the left side.

The other ideas don’t fit. Damage to the right side does not enhance left-sided attention; it typically reduces it. Memory is not typically improved by such injury, and aphasia is usually tied to left-hemisphere language areas, not right-hemisphere damage (though prosody or affective aspects of language can be affected).