What is the term for the inability to perform purposeful movement despite having no muscular or sensory disturbance?

Apraxia refers to the inability to carry out purposeful movements despite having intact muscular function and sensory perception. Individuals with apraxia can physically move their limbs, but they cannot execute movement tasks when prompted. This condition often arises from brain damage, particularly in areas responsible for planning and executing motor actions, such as the parietal lobe and other regions involved in motor control.

Ataxia, on the other hand, relates to a lack of coordination during voluntary movements, often stemming from issues in the cerebellum or other parts of the nervous system that affect muscle control. Agnosia involves a difficulty in processing sensory information, leading to an inability to recognize objects, faces, or sounds despite having intact sensory capabilities. Anosmia refers to the loss or absence of the sense of smell. In contrast, apraxia specifically points to a disconnect between the intention to move and the execution of that movement, making it the most appropriate term for the described condition.