Pantomime versus actual tool use: alterations of movement kinematics with the mode of execution and with brain damage

Apraxic stroke patients demonstrate impaired miming of the use of common tools. A subset of these patients may show a deficit in the actual use of these tools as well. As movement goals and task mechanics differ substantially between actual tool use and corresponding pantomimes, we aimed to understand whether this interpersonal variability in apraxia is due to a general deficit affecting both modes of action execution or whether some patients show an association of two distinct functional impairments. In the present study, we assessed repetitive ladle scooping movements in brain damaged patients with and without…