Kinesthetic Motor Engram and Motor Program Disorder in Limb-kinetic Apraxia: Time Spent in Finger Imitation

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the time spent in finger imitation by limb-kinetic apraxia (LKA) patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 8 healthy persons and 4 stroke patients with LKA. First, customary and uncustomary finger imitation tasks were prepared. Each task consisted of single and consecutive imitation. The times required to carry out these tasks were measured. [Results] The results show that the patients with LKA required more time to perform both tasks than healthy persons. [Conclusion] Customary tasks are associated with “kinesthetic motor engrams,” and uncustomary tasks are primarily associated with “motor program.” Thus, it has been suggested that the all patients are affected by “disorder of the kinesthetic motor engrams.” The presence or absence of “disorder of the motor program” could not be identified in the present research. Carrying out the present method of finger imitation tasks may allow analysis of the symptoms caused by LKA.