agnosia
Pronunciation: ag-NO-see-ah
Inability to recognise objects, people, or sounds despite intact sensory function.
Full Definition
Agnosia is a neurological condition characterised by the inability to process sensory information despite functioning sensory organs and adequate intellectual capacity. The condition results from damage to specific brain regions responsible for integrating sensory input with stored knowledge. Common types include visual agnosia (inability to recognise objects by sight), auditory agnosia (inability to recognise sounds), and tactile agnosia (inability to recognise objects by touch). The deficit is modality-specific and does not affect other cognitive functions.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the sensory modality affected (visual, auditory, tactile) for precise clinical communication.
In Context
- "Visual agnosia was suspected when the patient could not identify common objects despite normal visual acuity." — Neuropsychological evaluation
- "The differential diagnosis included agnosia versus visual field defects." — Clinical reasoning notes