Axial movements are relatively preserved with respect to limb movements inaphasic patients

Apraxia is commonly manifested during the acute stage following left hemisp here cerebrovascular accident and typically co-occurs with aphasia. We exam ined 30 acute stroke patients with aphasia and apraxia in order to determin e if such patients show evidence of preservation of selective subclasses of movements. Although Geschwind noted the preservation of axial movements to command in aphasic apraxic patients, his views were subsequently refuted. However, we found that aphasic apraxic patients of varying degrees of sever ity, including patients with global aphasia, showed relative preservation o f axial movements to command and imitation. Theoretical interpretations and implications for acute neurologic rehabilitation are discussed.