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Ecological implications of limb apraxia: Evidence from mealtime behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

Anne L. Foundas ,
Beth L. Macauley ,
Anastasia M. Raymer ,
Lynn M. Maher ,
Kenneth M. Heilman  and
Leslie J. Gonzalez Rothi
Anne L. Foundas
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112 Neurology Service, VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112
Beth L. Macauley
Affiliation:
Center for Neuropsychological Studies and the Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610
Anastasia M. Raymer
Affiliation:
Center for Neuropsychological Studies and the Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610
Lynn M. Maher
Affiliation:
Center for Neuropsychological Studies and the Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610
Kenneth M. Heilman
Affiliation:
Center for Neuropsychological Studies and the Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610 Neurology Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32608
Leslie J. Gonzalez Rothi
Affiliation:
Neurology Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32608 Speech Pathology Service of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32608
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Abstract

Humans learn skilled acts in order to effectively interact with their environment. A loss of the ability to perform skilled acts is termed apraxia. Apraxia has been thought to be of theoretical interest, but the ecological implications of apraxia are controversial and have not been fully studied. We examined ten patients with unilateral left hemisphere cerebral infarctions (eight of whom were apraxic) and compared their mealtime eating behavior to a group of neurologically normal, age-matched controls. The stroke patients were less efficient in completing the meal. They made more action errors and were less organized in the sequencing of mealtime activities. Because the patients made more errors while using tools than when performing nontool actions, their deficit could not be accounted for by an elemental motor deficit. A positive relationship was found between mealtime action errors and the severity of apraxia. These findings suggest that limb apraxia may adversely influence activities of daily living. (JINS, 1995, I, 62–66.)

Keywords

ApraxiaStrokeIdeomotor apraxia
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , January 1995 , pp. 62 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1995

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