Tool use in left brain damage and Alzheimer's disease: What about function and manipulation knowledge?

J Neuropsychol. 2016 Mar;10(1):154-9. doi: 10.1111/jnp.12097. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Abstract

Tool use disorders are usually associated with difficulties in retrieving function and manipulation knowledge. Here, we investigate tool use (Real Tool Use, RTU), function (Functional Association, FA) and manipulation knowledge (Gesture Recognition, GR) in 17 left-brain-damaged (LBD) patients and 14 AD patients (Alzheimer disease). LBD group exhibited predicted deficit on RTU but not on FA and GR while AD patients showed deficits on GR and FA with preserved tool use skills. These findings question the role played by function and manipulation knowledge in actual tool use.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; apraxia; function knowledge; left brain damage; manipulation knowledge; tool use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Apraxias / complications
  • Apraxias / pathology*
  • Apraxias / psychology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Gestures
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Recognition, Psychology
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / pathology*
  • Stroke / psychology*