Synonyms
Definition
Abulia refers to a lack of will, drive, or initiative. The word is derived from the Greek “αβουλία,” meaning “non-will.” It should be distinguished from an inability to actually perform the activity due to cognitive or physical disability. Abulia is manifested by the lack of motivation, spontaneity, and initiation. Some research indicates that abulia occurs because of malfunction of the brain’s dopamine-dependent circuitry, especially bilateral lesions in the medial frontal lobes, basal ganglia, and their connections. The following criteria have been suggested for the diagnosis of abulia: (1) decreased spontaneity in activity and speech; (2) prolonged latency in responding to queries, directions, and other stimuli; and (3) reduced ability to persist with a task.
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References and Readings
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Piryatinsky, I. (2011). Abulia. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1874
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1874
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