[Gerstmann's syndrome (critical review of the literature)]

Serious doubts have been casted upon the validity of the Gerstmann's syndrome since the paper of Benton in 1961. On the other hand, the results of several recent works suggest that it could not be a mere artifact. The analysis of this results, and mostly the theoretical works of Luria on the physiology of higher cortical functions, make it possible to imagine a functional unity behind the heterogenous signs of this syndrom, and the other manifestations of left parieto-occipital lesions. The data collected in the litterature are discussed, with special reference to the theoretical implications of Gerstmann's syndrome.