Study of anosognosia.

Abstract

Anosognosia (denial of weakness) and "anosognosic phenomena" (other abnormal attitudes to a weak limb) were studied in 100 acute hemiplegics. Both conditions were associated with lesions of either hemisphere. Apathy, visual field defect, and impaired picture identification were particularly prominent in anosognosia. A failure to integrate information from one side of the body was regarded as fundamental to the condition; explanations in terms of "unilateral neglect" and "agnosia" are discussed.