Organic mental disorders: alexia without agraphia: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Organic mental disorders: alexia without agraphia

Sample item

A 70-year-old man after a left posterior cerebral artery infarct has a right homonymous hemianopia. He can write sentences and speak normally, but cannot read what he has written. Which disconnection syndrome is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Pure alexia from a left occipital and splenial lesion

In alexia without agraphia the left visual cortex is destroyed and the splenium of the corpus callosum is damaged, so visual input from the intact right occipital cortex cannot reach the left-hemisphere language areas. Writing and speech remain intact.

Option by option

  • A. Gerstmann syndrome from a parietal lesion

    Gerstmann syndrome includes agraphia, so writing would be impaired.

  • B. Broca aphasia from an inferior frontal lesion

    Broca aphasia affects speech production and is not a reading disorder.

  • C. Pure alexia from a left occipital and splenial lesion (correct)

    Correct. Occipital cortex plus splenial damage disconnects vision from language.

  • D. Alexia with agraphia from an angular gyrus lesion

    Alexia with agraphia affects both reading and writing, from an angular gyrus lesion.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Pure alexia from a left occipital and splenial lesion. In alexia without agraphia the left visual cortex is destroyed and the splenium of the corpus callosum is damaged, so visual input from the intact right occipital cortex cannot reach the left-hemisphere language areas.

Why is "Gerstmann syndrome from a parietal lesion" not the answer?

Gerstmann syndrome includes agraphia, so writing would be impaired.

Why is "Broca aphasia from an inferior frontal lesion" not the answer?

Broca aphasia affects speech production and is not a reading disorder.

Why is "Alexia with agraphia from an angular gyrus lesion" not the answer?

Alexia with agraphia affects both reading and writing, from an angular gyrus lesion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: alexia without agraphia in Psychiatry. Writing and speech remain intact.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Organic mental disorders: alexia without agraphia?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.