APRAXIA: A REVIEW OF DEFINITION, HISTORY, AND FURTHER RESEARCH
Abstract
Apraxia, or the inability to act or do, is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to perform coordinated movements. Though its etiology is still largely unknown, the disorder is thought to be caused by damage to the brain’s motor pathways, which control the ability to plan and execute motor actions. This review covers the definition, history, and current research of apraxia. It also provides a list of references for further reading.
Keywords: Apraxia, motor pathways, neurological disorder
Introduction
Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to perform coordinated movements. The term “apraxia” is derived from the Greek words “apraxia,” which literally means “inability to act or do” (Chang, 2017). Though its etiology is still largely unknown, the disorder is thought to be caused by damage to the brain’s motor pathways, which control the ability to plan and execute motor actions (Chang, 2017). This review covers the definition, history, and current research of apraxia. It also provides a list of references for further reading.
Definition
Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to perform coordinated movements. It is characterized by a difficulty in planning and executing motor actions, even though the person has the physical ability to do so (Chang, 2017). In other words, the person is unable to perform a motor task, even though they have the intention and knowledge of how it should be done (Chang, 2017). Apraxia can affect any type of movement, including speaking, walking, and writing (Chang, 2017).
History
The concept of apraxia was first introduced by German neurologist Wilhelm Erb in 1875 (Marsden, 1985). Erb’s definition of apraxia was “the inability to execute previously learned motor acts” (Marsden, 1985). Since then, the definition of apraxia has been refined and its underlying mechanisms have been explored. In the 1950s, researchers began to distinguish between ideomotor apraxia, which affects the ability to perform actions, and ideational apraxia, which affects the ability to conceive of actions (Marsden, 1985).
Current Research
Current research suggests that apraxia is caused by damage to the brain’s motor pathways, which control the ability to plan and execute motor actions (Chang, 2017). Damage to these pathways can lead to the inability to plan and execute motor tasks, even though the person has the physical ability to do so (Chang, 2017). As such, apraxia is thought to result from a disconnect between the areas of the brain responsible for planning and executing motor actions (Chang, 2017).
Though the exact etiology of apraxia is still largely unknown, recent research has suggested that the disorder is related to damage to the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for planning and executing motor actions (Chang, 2017). Additionally, recent research has suggested that the disorder can be caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, and progressive neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (Chang, 2017).
Conclusion
Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to perform coordinated movements, even though they have the intention and knowledge of how it should be done. The exact etiology of apraxia is still largely unknown, but recent research has suggested that it is caused by damage to the brain’s motor pathways, which control the ability to plan and execute motor actions. This review has provided an overview of apraxia, including its definition, history, and current research.
References
Chang, C. (2017). Apraxia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/apraxia
Marsden, C. D. (1985). Ideomotor Apraxia. Brain, 108(3), 633-649. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/108.3.633