V.S. Ramachandran, the neurologist famous for describing phantom limbs, also studied people with anosognosia for left-side hemiplegia (translated out of.
Mon Jul 22 2002 at 3:43:57
V.S. Ramachandran, the neurologist famous for describing phantom limbs, also studied people with anosognosia for left-side hemiplegia (translated out of moon language: people whose left sides were paralyzed but they didn t know it). The tests he performed on these individuals make it clear that anosognosiacs aren t lying or sublimating their knowledge of their paralysis they genuinely have no idea that they re impaired.
When asked to pick up a tray full of champagne flutes, for example, anosognosiac hemiplegics would pick it up from one end, upsetting the tray and breaking all the glassware; of course, people who know they only have use of one hand will pick up a loaded tray from a middle balancing point. Another test involved offering a small prize (say, a small box of candy) for performing a one-handed task, and a larger one (a big box) for a task requiring two hands for instance, tying a shoelace. Paralyzed people who knew they were paralyzed w