[Several aspects of programming errors in the frontal syndrome]

In order to study different aspects of programming impairment, 32 patients with frontal lesions and other pathological groups were given two tasks: (a) "REY's Complex Figure" the results of which were compared to those of other graphic tasks; (b) an alternation task. The results of the first task indicate that the frontal subjects show characteristic disturbances, which are described. These patients encountered specific difficulties in the second task when the rule to be found involves asymmetrical sequences. The relationship between the different tasks and the programming impairment is discussed.