Ontogenesis of hemispheric specialization: apraxia associated with congenital left hemisphere lesions.

In adults apraxia is more common after left-hemisphere damage. The engram for control of skilled motor movements has therefore been considered a specialized function of the left hemisphere. The ontogenesis of motor control was studied in a group of prepubertal children with congenital unilateral hemispheric lesions. Left-hemisphere lesions caused greater impairment of rapid independent finger movements, suggesting that specialization for motor control is innately programmed in the left hemisphere. No subject evidenced apraxia to verbal command, but adult-like performance is not yet expected at the age the group was tested, and effects of side of lesion could appear later.