Progressive macrographia for block letter writing: A case study. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Semenza, Carlo; De Pellegrin, Serena; Facchini, Silvia; Cecchin, Diego; Manara, Renzo; Shallice, Tim; Vallesi, Antonino
• Is Part Of: Cortex. Volume 144(2021)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Megalographia -- Working memory -- Progressive macrographia -- Neglect -- Dysgraphia; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.09.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-9452

Abstract

Abstract: "Macrographia", a relatively rare symptom generally following cerebellar diseases, consists of an abnormally large handwriting. The case reported in the present investigation shows several outstanding features. First, it is of the progressive variety, letters increase in size as one goes through the word towards the lower-right portion of space. Moreover, it is limited to one allographic variety, that is, block letters. This phenomenon is previously unreported, all allographic varieties being usually equally affected. Finally, no prominent cerebellar or basal ganglia abnormality could be demonstrated with structural MRI or PET. From a cognitive point of view, a peculiar combination of spatial attention, executive function and working memory deficits is proposed to account for the progressive misalignment and elongation of individual letters when specifically writing in block prints. From an anatomical perspective, the pattern of multifocal lesions, encompassing multiple cortical areas in both hemispheres and the corpus callosum, may support this multi-componential interpretation of the reported phenomenon.