Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Prism Adaptation in Art Constructive Errors in Painting

This study aimed to investigate the influence of neglect and the effect of prism adaptation (PA) combined with continuous Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) on the art constructive errors in painting rehabilitation of stroke patients with neglect.

Fourteen patients with neglect and art constructive errors in painting secondary to stroke were randomly assigned to the rehabilitation group and received PA combined with the inhibitory protocol of cTBS over the intact parietal cortex; the control group received PA combined with sham cTBS for two weeks in ten daily sessions. Patients were assessed for art constructive errors in painting in figure copying test (FCT), and coloring test (CT) before and after the intervention. Art constructive errors in painting were classified into omission, deformation, size, neglect of warm colors, and perseveration of errors. Neglect was evaluated using the line bisection task (LBT), figure copying test (FCT), and coloring test (CT).

All patients showed a significant improvement in art constructive errors in painting (measured using the pattern of painting’ errors in FCT and CT), and neglect (measured using LBT, FCT, and CT) (p<0.05). Omission, neglect of warm colors, and deformation were the most frequent errors.

Neglect and rehabilitation influence the painting system in stroke patients. Both approaches improved art constructive errors in painting and neglect symptoms.