What does graphesthesia test evaluate?

• A. Ability to identify numbers traced on the skin
• B. Ability to feel vibration
• C. Ability to identify objects by touch
• D. Ability to localize a touch

Answer: (A)

Graphesthesia evaluates the brain’s ability to interpret complex touch in order to recognize symbols traced on the skin, such as a number or letter drawn on the palm. This tests higher-order sensory processing in the parietal cortex, combining primary touch sensation with the brain’s ability to identify and recall the traced symbol without visual input. It’s different from feeling vibration (vibratory sense), localizing a touch (precise point of contact), or identifying objects by touch (stereognosis), which rely on separate sensory skills. If someone has a graphesthesia deficit, it often points to a lesion in the somatosensory association areas of the contralateral parietal cortex.