Relationship between Perception (Input) and Execution (Output)

Abstract

15 brain-damaged and 9 non-brain-damaged retarded Ss were given the following visual-motor tasks: (a) the WISC Block Design subtest, (b) the WISC Block Design multiple-choice procedure presented by Birch and his associates, and (c) the MPD circle-diamond figures, incorporating pencil and block procedures. A combination of the Block Design subtest and the circle-diamond figures was successful in indicating Ss with execution (motor) or integrative dysfunctions. The multiple-choice procedure proved invalid as a technique for differentiating Ss with executive or integrative dysfunctions from Ss with visual perceptual difficulties. The results argue against the commonly held notion that perception is a unitary process. Rather, the findings suggest that failures on visual-motor tasks by mentally retarded Ss result primarily from faulty executive or integrative components.