Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
agnosia
Pronunciation: ag-NO-see-ah
Inability to recognize or interpret sensory information despite intact sensory function.
Full Definition
Agnosia refers to a neurological condition where patients cannot recognize or interpret sensory stimuli despite having normal sensory organs and pathways. This deficit typically results from brain lesions affecting association areas. Common types include visual agnosia (inability to recognize objects by sight), auditory agnosia (inability to recognize sounds), and tactile agnosia (inability to recognize objects by touch). The condition is distinct from sensory impairment or memory loss.
Usage
Usage note: Not to be confused with aphasia (language deficit) or apraxia (motor planning deficit).
In Context
- "The patient exhibited visual agnosia but could identify objects through tactile examination." — Neurological assessment
- "Agnosia typically results from lesions in posterior association cortex." — Medical textbook
Also known as
recognition deficit
Contrasted with
recognition
gnosis
Don't confuse with
aphasia
apraxia
amnesia