Abstract

Balint’s syndrome is the most severe neuropsychological disorder affecting spatial attention that has been observed. In humans, it can be observed after bilateral occipital-parietal damage. The signs and symptoms of this syndrome are first described and then discussed in terms of how research with patients with Balint’s syndrome has helped and/or limited our understanding of object-based attention, visual search, and feature binding in visual perception. The findings have also supported the existence of implicit spatial maps that are available in the face of severely limited conscious spatial awareness. The results of such studies have led to advancements in attentional theory, especially as related to spatial attention and its interaction with object perception.