DIFFERENCES IN RECOVERY FROM CONSTRUCTIONAL APRAXIA AFTER RIGHT AND LEFT-HEMISPHERE STROKE

Previous comparisons of constructional apraxia after right and left he misphere damage have not investigated the influence of time since onse t. This paper reports some preliminary findings from stroke patients i n a physical rehabilitation trial. Fifty-five patients with right hemi sphere damage and 65 with left hemisphere damage were assessed on the WAIS-R Block Design test at 1 month acid 6 months post stroke. The gro ups were similar at 1 month but the left hemisphere group showed bette r average recovery by 6 months. There was great variability in amount of recovery within the left hemisphere group, suggesting individual di fferences in initial reasons for failing Block Design, and correspondi ng differences in the recovery process. Compensation by the right hemi sphere is discussed as one possible process. Future detailed longitudi nal studies may be useful in contrasting the cognitive deficits which underlie constructional apraxia after right-sided and left-sided lesio ns, and would provide evidence on mechanisms of recovery and adaptatio n.