Difficulty in reaching objects and body parts: a sensory motor disconnexion syndrome

A 19-year-old woman is described who, following an acute episode of eclampsia during pregnancy, displayed a complex neuropsychological syndrome. Along with a mild pattern of conduction aphasia, she showed a severe apraxia, total agraphia, marked constructional disturbances and was unable to reach targets outside and on her body and to perform accurate motor tasks under visual, tactile and proprioceptive control. These symptoms are discussed as the results of a disconnexion syndrome and related to the C.T. scan findings.