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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
[Alexia without agraphia: an exemplary deficit, cherished by neuropsychologists]
1ISC, CNRS, 67, boulevard Pinel 69675 BRON cedex, France. fjp-michel@orange.fr
Abstract:
Alexia without agraphia is the result of a left inferotemporal cortical lesion. This unilateral lesion provokes an almost irrecoverable word reading disability. This anatomical-clinical observation has identified as crucial an area on the left fusiform gyrus, which represents a sort of "letter cranial bump". This area, located near the left V4, has been labeled the visual word form area (VWFA). The VWFA ensures visual word processing whatever the visual field stimulated. In normal subjects, imaging methods show an activation of the VWFA during reading. In patients, the alexia that follows a VWFA lesion proves that this area is an essential relay for cerebral word reading processing. Therefore, pure alexia is no longer explained by a posterior interhemispheric disconnection.
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