What does anosognosia refer to?

• A. Inability to understand language
• B. Denial of deficit
• C. Inability to move limbs
• D. Memory loss

Answer: (B)

Anosognosia is a lack of awareness of one's own neurological deficits. In practical terms, a person may genuinely deny or be unaware that they have a problem—such as paralysis on one side of the body—even when others can see it clearly. This isn’t about lying or refusing to acknowledge something on purpose; it’s a deficit in self-awareness caused by brain changes, often after a stroke or other brain injury, and it’s most commonly associated with damage to the right hemisphere, which can leave someone unaware of left-sided weakness.

For context, the other descriptions specify different problems: not understanding language points to aphasia; being unable to move limbs describes paralysis; and memory loss refers to amnesia. Anosognosia specifically targets the awareness of one’s own deficits, which is why it best fits the concept described.