ABSTRACT
Ideomotor limb apraxia is a disorder in skilled movement that some clinicians have loosely attributed to a dysfunction in motor programming. Although we will present some evidence that supports this general view, the chapter will focus on the different levels of description at which the motor representation can be studied to disclose specific cognitive mechanisms of motor programming disorders. Our goal is to provide the reader with a greater appreciation for how investigations into motor programming and control can advance empirical findings and refine our theoretical conceptualisations about ideomotor limb apraxia. The theoretical perspective that guides our discussion is derived from both motor control theory and cognitive psychology, and has broad implications for the study of other cognitive-motor disorders. This perspective provides a framework for inquiries into the properties and the organisation of representations of actions through the study of the cognitive operations involved in motor programming and control.
