Pantomime comprehension and ideomotor apraxia

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1985 Mar;48(3):207-10. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.48.3.207.

Abstract

In a prior study it was shown that apraxic patients with posterior infarctions that included the parietal lobe could not discriminate between gestures. In this study these observations were replicated using a nonverbal paradigm in which the subjects did not have to discriminate between gestures, but instead had to comprehend their meaning. Pantomimed acts on videotape were shown to six apraxic-aphasic patients, seven nonapraxic-aphasic patients, and six normal subjects. Four drawings were also shown, one of which matched the pantomime (for example, if the pantomime was of hammering, one drawing was of a nail and three were foils). Subjects responded by pushing a button corresponding to the desired picture. The apraxics made more errors than the aphasics or controls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aphasia / psychology
  • Apraxias / physiopathology
  • Apraxias / psychology*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Gestures
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nonverbal Communication*
  • Parietal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed