Affiliations: Laboratoire URECA, Psychologie –
Université Charles-de-Gaulle Lille3, France | Neuropsychological Department, Bogenhausen Hospital,
Munich, Germany | Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology –
University of Edinburgh, UK
Note: [] Corresponding author: Angela Bartolo, Laboratoire URECA,
Université Charles-de-Gaulle Lille III, Domaine universitaire du Pont de
Bois, BP 149, 59653 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France. Tel.: +33 0 3 20 41 71 12;
Fax: +33 0 3 20 41 60 32; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The praxic semantic system comprises a conceptual knowledge system,
which stores functional information about objects, and an action knowledge
system, which stores information about the correct manipulation of objects.
Moreover, mechanical problem solving abilities permit to take advantages from
objects structure to use unfamiliar tools or discover alternative ways of using
familiar tools. This study aims at investigating whether conceptual knowledge,
action knowledge and mechanical problem solving abilities intervene in the
production of gestures with objects (i.e. pantomimes and object use) by testing
a group of brain damaged patients. Results showed that the mechanical problem
solving abilities are not sufficient to produce pantomimes and that only severe
deficits in the praxic semantic system would affect the production of these
gestures. Furthermore, a double dissociation was observed between mechanical
problem solving abilities and the capacity to use multiple objects. Overall,
the results indicate that the praxic semantic system can be disrupted at
different levels, suggesting that the semantic system for object has to be
conceived as fractionated in different entities.
