The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Neuropsychological assessment of apraxia
Language	J
AuthorList	Yoshitsugu Nakagawa
Affiliation	School of Psychological Science, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 30 (2), 116-124, 2014
Received
Accepted
Abstract	I presented a sample of how to assess the neuropsychological symptoms of apraxia. For the assessment, first we should notice three specific actions. Each action requires a peculiar ability in organizing each action, respectively, i.e., (1) actions for using a single tool, (2) actions for pretending to use a single tool, or for showing signal gestures (pantomime), (3) actions for manipulating visuo-spatially presented targets. We should also remember the fact that frontal lobe and corpus callosum could directly commit the coordination of motor actions between the left and right hands. And finally, we should underscore the importance of correlation between the visual information of the target object and the somato-sensation of subject's own hands, which should contribute visuo-spatial adaptation between the target and the hand. In addition to these characteristics on motor organization, we should take into consideration the influence of aphasia and agnosia on neuropsychological assessment of apraxia.
Keywords	apraxia, sensory impairment, motor impairment, higher brain dysfunction