Aphasias and Agnosias

Question 1

Visual Agnosia

Answer 1

An inability to identify objects by sight. Patients can see, but they can’t tie the object they see to its name.
Interestingly, they can name it once they touch it, smell it, etc.

Question 2

Blindsight

Answer 2

When patients perceive themselves to have a blindspot, but they can mysteriously perceive things there regardless. Damage to the primary visual cortex.
Weiskrantz and

Question 3

Prosopagnosia

Answer 3

A specific case of visual agnosia, where the patient cannot recognize faces specifically.

Question 4

Apperceptive agnosia

Answer 4

One of two visual agnosia subdivisions.
There are two steps of interest here: perception and recognition.
Apperceptive agnosia fails at perception.

Question 5

Associative agnosia

Answer 5

One of two visual agnosia subdivisions.

Perception occurs, but recognition fails. The patient can’t name the object.

Question 6

Broca’s aphasia

Answer 6

A condition where subjects can’t speak, but they can comprehend.

Question 7

Wernicke’s aphasia

What does Broca and Wernicke help prove?

Answer 7

In contrast with Broca’s aphasia, subjects CAN speak, but they cannot comprehend.

These two aphasias provide support for the theory that brains have localized functions.

Question 8

Conduction aphasia

Answer 8

A special type of aphasia, where there’s a disconnection between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area. Patients are fine, but they have trouble recreating phrases.