Spatially oriented movements in the absence of proprioception.

Four patients, each with a cerebrovascular accident in a different arterial supply, had unilaterally impaired somatosensory function that included eficits in the perception of touch and proprioception. In spite of central nervous system lesions and absent proprioception, all patients accurately performed spatially oriented movements with the deafferented hand. These observations suggest that execution of certain motor programs can proceed effectively without peripheral feedback.