GERSTMANNS SYNDROME - NOWADAYS VIEW

In 1924 Josef Gerstmann described <<finger agnosia>>, an apparently hi therto unrecognized behavioral deficit appearing as a consequence of c erebral disease. In this and subsequent papers, he called attention to the frequent association of finger agnosia with right-left disorienta tion, acalculia, and agraphia. His observations were soon confirmed by other investigators, and the tetrad of sympstoms has come to be known as the Gerstmann's syndrome. For years neuropsychologists have consid ered this syndrome as diagnostic of disease in the dominant parietal l obe. However considerable attention has been devoted to the neuropsych ological significance of the syndrome. Several authors have questioned its existence and have tried to cast doubt on its diagnostic value an d theoretical importance. This paper provides the clinical-phenomenolo gic definition of the syndrome and its associated features related wit h its neuropathological significance and reviews the subject in the li ght of present day reports. On this basis, the neuropsychological sign ificance of the syndrome is assessed and some persisting questions are considered.