Gesture laterality in aphasic and apraxic stroke patients

Author(s): Macauley, B. L., Raymer, A. M., Maher, L. M., Heilman, K. M., Rothi, L. J. G.

Journal/Book: Brain Cognition. 1995; 29: 525B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. Academic Press Inc Jnl-Comp Subscriptions. 204-213.

Abstract: Limb preference during conversational gestures may be a reflection of functional hemispheric asymmetries. In right-handers, speech and praxis are usually mediated by the left hemisphere and in conversation, right-handers gesture more with their right than left hand. However, patients with left hemisphere brain damage, who are aphasic and apraxic but not hemiplegic, may use their right hemisphere to compensate for their left. Therefore, we investigated spontaneous lateralized gesture production during conversation in a group of left hemisphere-damaged stroke patients, who were aphasic and apraxic but not hemiparetic, and compared their performance to a group of matched controls. Whereas the control group had a strong right-hand preference, the nonparetic but apraxic and aphasic stroke patients were as likely to produce gestures with the right, left, or both hands.

Note: Article AL Foundas, Tulane Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat & Neurol, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA

Keyword(s): MANUAL ACTIVITY; SPEAKING; HANDERS

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