[Serial reactions in aphasic patients].

A symptom is reported that has hitherto not been described in neuropsychological literature: Not infrequently, severe aphasics mix automatized verbal series or parts of them not only into their spontaneous speech but also into other modalities of the expressive language. Sometimes this form of automatism replaces a demanded answer. In the speech data of 134 aphasics this symptom was observed in half of the cases. Its incidence was analysed in relation to aetiology, type of aphasia and the modalities in which it was observed. 6 cases are described in detail. The serial reaction is a neuropsychological sign of clinical value, because it indicates an organic brain lesion.