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Related Concept Videos

Learning Disabilities01:25

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round end"...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
Amnesia01:13

Amnesia

Amnesia is a condition marked by long-term memory loss, which impairs the ability to recall past events or create new memories.
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
Dissociative Amnesia01:21

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a complex psychological condition that manifests as an inability to recall personal information, often tied to traumatic or stressful events. Unlike general amnesia, individuals with this condition retain the ability to perform routine activities and procedural tasks, such as operating a phone or navigating public transportation, yet experience profound gaps in autobiographical memory. These lapses may encompass significant life events, such as suicide attempts or...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
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Published on: June 25, 2019

Chapter 37: alexia and agraphia.

Victor W Henderson1

  • 1Department of Health Research & Policy (Epidemiology) and Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5405, USA. vhenderson@stanford.edu

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|November 7, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Studies on alexia (reading impairment) and agraphia (writing impairment) reveal crucial links between brain function and behavior. Historical research, from the 19th century onwards, has progressively mapped these complex cognitive processes to specific brain regions.

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Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neurolinguistics

Background:

  • The study of alexia and agraphia has historically informed our understanding of brain-behavior relationships.
  • Early 19th-century work by Gall and Boulliaud laid groundwork, with Marcé postulating a cerebral faculty for writing.

Observation:

  • Following Broca's work on aphemia, European physicians extensively studied reading and writing impairments post-brain injury.
  • Key figures like Pitres and Kussmaul described isolated agraphia and alexia, respectively.
  • Dejerine's 1892 work provided clinical-pathological descriptions of pure alexia, highlighting the left parietal lobe's role.

Findings:

  • 20th-century research linked alexia and agraphia to apraxia, body image issues, spatial perception deficits, and interhemispheric disconnection.
  • Analysis of error types led to the identification of new syndromes like deep dyslexia.
  • These studies provided evidence for cognitive modularity in reading and writing.

Implications:

  • Understanding alexia and agraphia is vital for cognitive neuroscience and neurology.
  • Historical research on these impairments has significantly advanced models of brain function.
  • Continued investigation into reading and writing disorders deepens our knowledge of complex cognitive processes and their neural underpinnings.