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Many studies have shown a co-variation of unilateral neglect with nonlateralised attentional functions. Recently, Posner has argued that there are two separate neural systems that influence the posterior attentional system which is presumed to be impaired in unilateral neglect, namely, the posterior system itself (located partly in the inferior parietal lobules) as well as a secondary modulatory sustained attention or vigilance system. This latter system is linked to the nor-epinephrine system, which is known to be more strongly represented in the right compared to the left hemisphere of the brain. If this hypothesis is true, then unilateral neglect should be improved by increasing activation of the sustained attention system. Eight patients suffering from chronic left unilateral neglect were trained to sustain their attention by a self-alerting procedure partially derived from Meichenbaum's self-instructional methods. Using …