To play 'B' but not to say 'B': selective loss of letter names

This paper is the first report of an aphasic patient (GT) who shows a selective impairment in naming musical notes and letters in the context of preserved instrumental reading of notes. The ability to orally name notes (which are given the letter names A-G in English) and to play notes from a spoken note name was severely impaired. By contrast, instrumental sightreading and matching of written letters and single notes were both well preserved. This complex pattern of impairments can be explained in terms of a selective deficit in the letter name system.