Standardization of Spatial Neglect Assessment Tests
France210 participantsStarted 2026-01-07
Plain-language summary
Spatial neglect is a common cognitive disorder in stroke patients, characterized by a lateralized deficit in attention and intention.
This research focuses on defining norms for tests to assess spatial neglect. The norms correspond to the results obtained in a population free of any disorder that could have an impact on test performance. These results can vary in a normal, non-pathological way, with certain parameters such as age, sex, laterality or level of education. Defining these norms in healthy volunteers is therefore essential for interpreting results in patients suspected of spatial neglect, and in particular for defining pathological thresholds above which the diagnosis of spatial neglect can be retained.
To answer the research question, we plan to include 210 people with no central neurological disease (stroke, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis in particular), in a single-center study in the neurovascular department of the Raymond-Poincaré hospital (Garches). The 210 subjects will be divided into 10-year age groups, from 20 to 89 years, with the recruitment of 30 participants per age group (15 men and 15 women): 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, 80-89 years.
Who can participate
Age range
20 Years – 89 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Healthy volunteer attending the neurovascular department of Raymond-Poincaré Hospital
. Aged between 20 and 89 years
. Affiliated with a health insurance scheme
. French-speaking
. Has freely and knowingly expressed their non-opposition
Exclusion criteria
. Known history of central neurological disease: stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), transient ischemic attack, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
To establish average scores for healthy French-speaking volunteers without central neurological disorders on the Apples Cancellation Test (from the BCoS), using French-translated administration and scoring instructions
. Medical interview suggesting past central nervous system involvement: history of episodes such as sensorimotor deficits, dysarthria, aphasia, blurred or double vision, or positive symptoms such as visual or sensory hallucinations (e.g., paresthesias).
. Significant visual impairment - as judged by the examiner - in near vision despite correction, or monocular blindness. Specifically, inability to distinguish the targets with gaps in the example (pre-test) of the Apples Cancellation Test.
. Abnormal neurological examination:
. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score \> 0
. Pyramidal reflex syndrome (hyperactive deep tendon reflexes with extended reflexogenic zones and spread).
. Use of substances (alcohol or drugs) within 24 hours prior to the assessment.
. Presence of cognitive or psychiatric disorders, assessed during the inclusion interview and neurological examination, at the examiner's discretion.