Acquired alexias: Mechanisms of reading

Reading is one of the most important cognitive skills an individual can acquire and the process of reading has been debated much in the psycholinguistic, neurolinguistic, and educational literature for many years now. Much of this literature has discussed the process of reading, proposed theoretical models to describe its components, and identification of neuroanatomic underpinnings. In this chapter we have attempted to provide a review of both dual- route and connectionist models of alexia, outline specific types of peripheral and central alexias, provide a brief overview of the neural substrates linked with reading processes, and finally offer diagnostic and treatment strategies.