Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Neuropsychological identification of motor problems: Can we learn something from the feet and legs that hands and arms will not tell us?

  • Published:
Neuropsychology Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The degree of structural and functional specialization that differentiates between upper and lower limb use in humans is quite unparalleled among primates. It is argued that less neural resources are devoted to leg and foot control than to arm and hand control, and that this aspect of lower limb innervation, together with the uniquely restricted use of the lower limb, renders lower limb function more sensitive to general neural insult. In addition, the status of leg and foot control differs from that of arm and hand control both early in life and during the later years of decline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adkins, W. N. (1986). Rett syndrome at an institution for the developmentally disabled.Am. J. Med. Genet. 1(suppl.): 85–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustyn, C., and Peters, M. (1986). On the relation between footedness and handedness.Percept. Motor Skills 63: 1115–1118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron, R. E. (1967). Disorders of gait related to the aging nervous system.Geriatrics 22:113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, W., Altenmueller, E., and Dietz, V. (1984). Normal and impaired development of children's gait.Human Neurobiol. 3: 163–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschert, J., and Deecke, L. (1986). Handedness, footedness and finger and toe movement-related cerebral potentials.Human Neurobiol. 5: 235–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschert, J., Brickett, P., Weinberg, H., and Deecke, L. (1983). Movement-related potentials preceding toe plantarflexion and dorsiflexion.Human Neurobiol. 87–90.

  • Brodal, A. (1973). Self-observations and neuroanatomical considerations after a stroke.Brain 96: 675–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. W. (1972).Aphasia, Apraxia and Agnosia. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brun, R. (1921). Klinische und anatomische Studien über Apraxie.Schweizer Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 9: 29–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunel, R., and Gilly, R. (1985). A case of the Rett syndrome.Brain Develop. 7: 313–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunia, C. H. M. (1980). What is wrong with legs in motor preparation? In Kornhuber, H. H. and Deecke, L. (eds.),Motivation, Motor and Sensory Processes of the Brain: Vol. 54. Progress in Brain Research. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunia, C. H. M., Voorn, F. J., and Berger, M. P. F. (1985). Movement related slow potentials. II. A contrast between finger and foot movements in left-handed subjects.Electroencephal. Clin. Neurophysiol. 60: 135–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buettner-Janusch, J. (1966).Origins of Man. John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnahan, H., Elliott, D., and Lee, T. D. (1986). Dual-task interference between speaking and listening and a unipedal force production task.Neuropsychologia 24: 583–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, C. C. (1982).Down's Syndrome: An Introduction for Parents. Souvenir Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cusick, C. G., and Kaas, J. H. (1986). Interhemispheric connections of cortical sensory and motor representations in primates. In Leporé, F., Ptito, M., and Jasper H. H. (eds.),Two Hemispheres-One Brain. Functions of the Corpus Callosum, Alan R. Liss, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dare, M. T., and Godon, N. (1970). Clumsy children: A disorder of perception and motor organisation.Develop. Med. Child Neurol. 12: 178–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denny-Brown, D. (1958). The nature of apraxia.J. Nerv. Mental Dis. 126: 9–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Renzi, E., Faglioni, P., Scarpa, M., and Crisi, G. (1986). Limb apraxia in patients with damage confined to the left basal ganglia and thalamus.J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 49: 1030–1038.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dow, R. S., and Moruzzi, G. (1958).The Physiology and Pathology of the Cerebellum. The University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, H. C. (1963).Neuroanatomy. Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estanol, B. V. (1981). Gait apraxia in communicating hydrocephalus.J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 44: 305–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fregly, A. R. (1974). Vestibular ataxia and its measurement in man. In Kornhuber, H. H. (ed.),Handbook of Sensory Physiology: Vol. VI. Vestibular System. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gahagan, J. (1975).Interpersonal and Group Behavior. Methuen, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, L. P. (1941). Experimental data on the problem of motor lateral dominance in feet and hands.Psychol. Rec. 5: 1–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, D. (1978).Down's Syndrome. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubbay, S. S. (1978). The management of developmental apraxia.Develop. Med. Child Neurol. 20: 643–646.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubbay, S. S., Ellis, E., Walton, J. N., and Court, S. D. M. (1965). Clumsy children, a study in apraxic and agnosic defects in 21 children.Brain 88: 295–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, S. E., and Hall, D. (1982). Concomitants of clumsiness in young school children.Develop. Med. Child Neurol. 24: 448–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horanyi, B. (1958). Zur Pathophysiologie der Pyramidenbahn.Deutsche Zeit. Nervenheil. 178: 380–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horenstein, S. (1974). Managing gait disorders.Geriatrics 29: 86–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huff, F. J., and Growdon, J. H. (1986). Neurological abnormalities associated with severity of dementia in Alzheimer's disease.Can. J. Neurol. Sci. 13: 403–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulme, C., Smart, A., Moran, G., and Raine, A. (1983). Visual Kinaesthetic and cross-modal development: Relationships to motor development.Perception 12: 477–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illingworth, R. S. (1968). The clumsy child.Clin. Pediat. 7: 539–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jay, R. (1987).Of Learning Pigs and Fireproof Women. Random House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, D. (1982). Left-hemisphere control of oral and brachial movements and their relation to communication.Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London B298: 135–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, R., and Mayer-Gross, W. (1957).The Clinical Examination of Patients with Organic Cerebral Disease. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutsson, E., and Lying-Tunell, U. (1985). Gait apraxia in normal-pressure hydrocephalus: Patterns of movement and muscle activation.Neurology 35: 155–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulczycki, J., and Jedrzejczak, T. (1984). Klinische und zisternographische Differentialdiagnose zwischen präseniler Demenz und Hakim-syndrom.Psychiat. Neurol. Med. Psychol. 36: 674–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassek, A. M. (1954).The Pyramidal Tract: Its Status in Medicine. Charles C. Thomas, Spring-field, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesny, I. (1980). Developmental dyspraxia-dysgnosia as a cause of congenital children's clumsiness.Brain Develop. 2: 69–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lhermittee, J. (1935). Cortical cerebellar degeneration.Proc. Royal Soc. Med. 28: 379–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R., and Brindley, G. S. (1965). The extrapyramidal motor tract.Brain 71: 245–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malmo, R. B., and Andrews, M. L. (1945). A recording device for foot-tapping, with results from polyneuropathic subjects.Am. J. Psychol. 58: 247–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuoka, I., Takagi, A., and Sasa, M. (1986). Intoxication and postural control. In Bles, W., and Brandt, Th. (eds.),Disorders of Posture and Gait. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J., and Barron, D. (1960). Apraxia of gait: A clinical physiological study.Brain. 83: 261–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mongan, P. F. (1979). Tick toxicosis in North America.The J. Fam. Pract. 8: 939–944.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montplaisir, J., Godbout, R., Boghen, D., DeChamplain, J., Young, S. N., Lapierre, G., and Ing, M. (1985). Familial restless legs with periodic movements in sleep: Electrophysiologic, biochemical and pharmacologic study.Neurology 35: 130–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nashner, L. M., Woollacott, M., and Tuma, G. (1979). Organization of rapid responses to postural and locomotor-like perturbations in standing man.Exp. Brain Res. 36: 463–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, H. D., and Amassian, V. E. (1960). The pyramidal tract: Its excitation and functions. In Field, J., Magoun, W., and Hall, V. E. (eds.),Handbook of Physiology: Sec. 1. Neurophysiology: Vol. II. American Physiological Society, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, M. (1988). Footedness: Asymmetries in foot preference and skill and neuropsychological assessment of foot movement.Psychol. Bull. 103: 179–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, M., and Durding, B. (1979). Footedness of left- and righthanders.Am. J. Psychol. 92: 133–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, M., and Ploog, D. (1973). Communication among primates.Ann. Rev. Physiol. 35: 221–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrovici, I. (1968). Apraxia of gait and trunk movements.J. Neurol. Sci. 7: 229–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poeck, K. (1986). The clinical examination for motor apraxia.Neuropsychologia 24: 129–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rett Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria Working Group. (1988). Diagnostic criteria for Rett syndrome.Ann. Neurol. 23: 425–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuben, R. N., and Bakwin, H. (1968). Developmental clumsiness.Pediat. Clin. N. Am. 15: 601–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, S. S. (1981). Family characteristics associated with mild mental retardation. In Begab, M. H., Hywood, H. C., and Garber, L. H. (eds.),Psychosocial Influences in Retarded Performance: Vol. II. University Park, Baltimore, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhall, U., and Rubin, W. (1975). Degenerative changes in the human vestibular sensory epithelia,Acta Otolaryngol. 79: 67–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy, E. A., and Square, P. A. (1985). Common considerations in the study of limb, verbal and oral apraxia. In Roy, E. A. (ed.),Neuropsychological Studies of Apraxia and Related Disorders. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, L., Levine, M. D., and Belfer, M. (1982). Developmental double jeopardy: A study of clumsiness and self-esteem in children with learning problems.Develop. Behav. Pediat. 3: 191–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stott, D. H., Moyes, F. A., and Henderson, S. E. (1986).Test of Motor Impairment (TOMI)—Henderson Revision. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sudarsky, L., and Simon, S. (1987). Gait disorder in late-life hydrocephalus.Arch. Neurol. 44: 263–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victor, M., Adams, R. D., and Mancall, E. L. (1959). A restricted form of cerebellar cortical degeneration.Arch. Neurol. 1: 579–688.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whanger, A. D., and Wang, H. S. (1974). Clinical correlates of vibratory sense in elderly psychiatric patients.J. Gerontol. 29: 39–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S. A. K. (1908). A contribution to the study of apraxia.Brain 31: 168–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woollacott, M. H. (1986). Gait and postural control in the aging adult. In Bles, W., and Brandt, Th. (eds.),Disorders of posture and Gait. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E., and Hodapp, R. M. (1986).Understanding Mental Retardation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, NIG 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Michael Peters

Authors
  1. Michael Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peters, M. Neuropsychological identification of motor problems: Can we learn something from the feet and legs that hands and arms will not tell us?. Neuropsychol Rev 1, 165–183 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01108716

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01108716

Key words

Search

Navigation