Apraxia typically results from damage to specific brain regions vital for the planning and execution of learned movements.
The primary cause of apraxia is usually damage to the parietal lobes of the brain. These areas are crucial because they play a key role in storing memories of learned sequences of movements. Furthermore, damage to the nerve pathways that connect these parietal lobes to other critical parts of the brain, such as the frontal lobes and/or temporal lobes, can also lead to apraxia. These pathways are essential for coordinating complex actions. Less frequently, apraxia may stem from damage to other areas of the brain as well.
Understanding the specific locations of brain damage that commonly produce apraxia can be summarized as follows:
| Location of Brain Damage | Primary Role in Movement | Typicality in Apraxia Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Parietal Lobes | Storing memories of learned movement sequences | Most common cause |
| Nerve Pathways | Connecting parietal lobes to frontal/temporal lobes | Frequent cause |
| Frontal Lobes | Involved in motor planning and execution (via pathways) | Contributes when pathways are damaged |
| Temporal Lobes | Involved in memory and processing (via pathways) | Contributes when pathways are damaged |
| Other Brain Areas | Various, less directly involved in motor planning | Less common cause |
This type of brain injury impairs the brain's ability to properly recall or generate the instructions for carrying out purposeful, learned movements, even though there's no underlying muscular weakness, sensory loss, or lack of understanding of the command. The damage specifically targets the networks responsible for the conceptualization, planning, and sequencing of motor acts.
