Affiliations: 'Salvatore Maugeri' Foundation, IRCCS, Center of
Telese, Telese (BN), Italy | Second Chair of Neurology, School of Medicine,
'Federico II' University, Naples, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding Author: Dr. Luigi Trojano, Fondazione 'Salvatore
Maugeri', Centro di Telese, Loc. S. Stefano in Lanterria, 82037 Telese (BN),
Italy. Tel.: +39 824 909111; Fax: +39 824 909614; E-mail: lutroj@tin.it.
Abstract: We report on a patient affected by selective drawing disabilities.
The patient could correctly reproduce and draw simple geometric figures on
request, but when he tried to reproduce more complex drawings or to draw common
objects he performed very poorly. To identify the cognitive impairment in this
patient, we adopted two test batteries based on recent information-processing
models of drawing. Results showed that the patient's drawing disabilities were
independent of visuo-perceptual and executive impairments. These findings
support recent cognitive models of drawing abilities: some intermediate stages
of drawing exist at which information is processed to prepare and guide motor
output, and which may be selectively disrupted after discrete cerebral
lesions.
Keywords: Constructional apraxia, brain lesions, cognitive models, single-case study
