Limb apraxia: Gestures and tool use

Abstract

Limb apraxia is a disorder of learned skilled movement. Cognitive models of limb apraxia attempt to reconcile conceptual and preparatory aspects of the motor program with perceptual and kinematic features. Current models propose that representations of learned skilled movement rely on the left inferior parietal lobe, while the computations guiding these goal-directed movements (motor plans) are mediated within left prefrontal motor cortical networks. Limb apraxia can be assessed by directly testing how patients produce gestures-to-command based on the errors in the spatial-temporal-orientation of the limb movement. Cognitive process models should be used to inform future controlled multi-modal treatment strategies.