The Problems of Pure Alexia

A neurolinguistic study analyzing the reading performance of a group of 38 Ss with left hemisphere lesions & a group of 6 having 'pure' word blindness is presented. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that the difference between the reading disturbances of these two groups was not only quantitative, but also qualitative. The previously proposed classification of verbal, literal, & sentence alexia was found to apply for 6 Ss having pure alexia. But the present study, by taking into account three contrasts--recognition vs reading, meaningfulness vs nonmeaningfulness, & combinatory vs global reading--demonstrates that different factors may influence the various stages of the reading process & could better account for the various types of alexic disturbances. Literal alexia is seen as a naming disturbance, whereas verbal alexia is considered a deficit of categorization. AA