RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dysgraphia for letters: a form of motor memory deficit?
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 573
OP 575
DO 10.1136/jnnp.46.6.573
VO 46
IS 6
A1 Kapur, N
A1 Lawton, N F
YR 1983
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/46/6/573.abstract
AB A case of pure dysgraphia is presented in which the patient could accurately copy letters which she could not write. The patient did not show any evidence of significant reading or speech impairment or any buccofacial or limb apraxia. Both oral and "block spelling" performance were intact. The writing impairment, which was bilateral, appeared to consist of a memory difficulty for the motor movements associated with letters. The dysgraphia was shown to be specific to letters as the patient was able to transcribe certain numbers and patterns which were similar to letters in their visuospatial complexity. It is suggested that dysgraphia for letters may represent a specific type of motor memory deficit, dissociable from copying skills and the ability to draw letter-like forms.