Error recognition and utilization produced by injury to the frontal cortex in man.

In an earlier study, a patient with frontal lobe damage had been observed and had been noted to suffer from "an equivocal disturbance of error evaluation." The terms error "evaluation" and "utilization" were employed synonymously. Neuropsychological examination of the patient reported here clarifies this "equivocal disturbance": it became clear that error recognition remains intact although error utilization is disturbed. Consequently the nature of the frontal lobe syndrome is re-evaluated.