What symptom may accompany neglect following right parietal damage?

• A. Anosognosia may be present
• B. Prosopagnosia is inevitable
• C. Aphasia is always present
• D. Visual field loss is required

Answer: (A)

Right parietal damage disrupts how attention is allocated in space, especially to the left side. This often produces left-sided neglect, where stimuli or even the patient’s own body on that side go unacknowledged despite intact vision. Anosognosia fits with this picture because the same networks that monitor and orient attention to one’s own body and deficits can be impaired, leading to a lack of awareness about the neglect itself. In this context, the patient may seem unaware of the problem, even denying that anything is wrong.

Prosopagnosia is a separate issue involving face recognition and isn’t an inevitable companion of right parietal damage, and aphasia typically stems from left-hemisphere language areas rather than the parietal systems responsible for spatial awareness. Visual field loss isn’t required either, since neglect can occur with intact primary visual pathways. So the possibility that the person is unaware of their deficits (anosognosia) is the most fitting accompanying symptom.