Neuropsychological patterns of impairment in infratentorial strokes

Abstract

The cortical origin of the neuropsychological disorders plays a leading role in their manifestation, but in recent years there are growing evidence for the key function of the brainstem and cerebellum in the complex networks of cognitive functioning. Two cases of acute occurred stroke with infratentorial location, accompanied by emerging mood disorders and cognitive impairment are presented. In case № 1 with registered cerebral infarction in the left a. cerebelli inferior posterior the most severely impaired neuropsychological patterns were selective attention, visuo-spatial orientation and constructive praxis - domains that are typically regulated by the right cerebral hemisphere. In case № 2, there is hemorrhage involving the left mesencephalon and part of the left thalamus. The manifestation of visual object agnosia and visual hallucinations in that patient may be explained by impaired connectivity to the left limbic temporal cortex, and color agnosia - by disconnection syndrome isolating the occipito-temporal cortex on the left and / or bilaterally. The affective symptomatology in both patients is considered in the context of cerebellar cognitive and affective syndrome.