Final answer:
Optic ataxia relates to the right parietal lesion and affects visually guided reaching. Deficits in eye gaze are typically associated with the left parietal lesion. The correct answer to the question is option 'c'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction between optic ataxia and deficits in eye gaze and visually guided reaching relates to differences in parietal lobe function. To understand this, we need to know about the segregation of visual field information at the optic chiasm. In the eye, axons from the medial side of the retina cross over at the optic chiasm, while those from the lateral side do not. Hence, the right field of view is processed by the left brain hemisphere and vice versa.
Optic ataxia, a condition characterized by difficulty in visually guided hand movements towards objects, is typically associated with a lesion in the right parietal lobe when the problem involves reaching out with either hand to visually guided targets. This condition does not typically impair primary visual processing but rather the integration of visual information to coordinate motor responses. On the other hand, deficits in eye gaze control—the voluntary control over eye movements—are commonly related to lesions in the left parietal lobe.
To answer the student's question directly, option 'c' is the most accurate: Optic ataxia is associated with lesions in the right parietal lesion leading to issues with visually guided reaching, and deficits in eye gaze control are typically associated with lesions in the left parietal lesion.