Caloric stimulation and unilateral visual neglect.

We studied performance on tests of visual neglect and left lateral gaze after caloric stimulation in 18 patients with left-sided visual neglect after strokes. Except for one patient with absent vestibulo-ocular responses, all improved during caloric stimulation on the left by cold (LC) or on the right by warm water (RW). Improvement seemed to depend on the facilitation of left lateral gaze and on past-pointing to the left. During LC and RW caloric stimulation, patients worked from left to right instead of their usual right to left. Caloric stimulation may be of use in training patients with hemispatial neglect to orient toward the affected hemispatial field.