The Neuropsychology of handwriting

Patients with Parkinson's disease have a tendency to micrographia, that is small handwriting that is technically and qualitatively correct in major instances. Micrographia tends to improve with the withdrawal of visual feedback (eyes closed condition) and worsens with withholding of dopaminergic drugs. Moreover, with continuation of the task, micrographia becomes worse. It is worse in copying than free writing paradigm and improved with external cues (such as lined paper). Patients have worse micrographia with worse external attentional demands. Only one report exists of macrographia, in autism.


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